Herbed Goat Cheese Ball Recipes

HERBED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Find a small, wide-mouth canning jar or small glass vase (3 1/2 inches in diameter by 4 inches high), just large enough to hold the two goat cheeses on top of each other with a little room to spare. Cut each cheese in half horizontally, making 2 rounds from each. (A piece of dental floss makes this easier.)
• Place half of the first disk flat in the jar, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then with 1/2 teaspoon dill, 1 teaspoon basil, and a few red pepper flakes, and drizzle with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Place another disk of cheese on top and repeat the seasonings, herbs, and oil. Continue with the remaining cheese disks, piling one on top of the other with oil and seasonings in between. When all the disks are stacked and seasoned, drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil on top. Cover and set aside at room temperature for one hour or refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Serve at room temperature with bread or crackers for people to help themselves.

HERB & GARLIC CHEESEBALL

Steps:

• In a large bowl using a hand held mixer or stand mixer, add the cream cheese and mix until smooth. Add the goat cheese and mix together with cream cheese until well blended.
• Add the herbs, dill, basil, rosemary, and chives and mix together. Lay plastic wrap on top of the inside of a smaller bowl completely covering the inside of the bowl leaving the excess plastic wrap hanging off the bowl. Use a rubber spatula and scoop the cheese mixture into the bowl.
• Once all the cheese has been added, take the ends of plastic wrap and cover the exposed cheese wrapping the entire mixture. Turn the wrapped cheese to the countertop and use your hands to form into a perfectly sized ball. Place inside the refrigerator for, at least, 2 hours.
• Turn the ball onto a serving platter and remove the plastic wrap. Garnish the ball by sprinkling with dill and parsley leaves, if desired. Serve with crackers.

HERB-COATED MINI CHEESE BALLS

Steps:

• In small bowl, mix cheeses and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper, using fork or back of spoon to mash feta, until well blended. Cover; refrigerate 45 to 60 minutes or until firm enough to shape into balls.
• In small shallow bowl, mix parsley, basil, rosemary, lemon peel and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Shape cheese mixture into 1-inch balls (about 1 teaspoon cheese mixture for each ball); roll in parsley mixture to coat (some cheese will show through herbs).
• To serve immediately, place each ball on a bagel chip. To make ahead, do not place cheese balls on bagel chips; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve but no longer than 24 hours. Just before serving, place each ball on a bagel chip.

HERBED GOAT CHEESE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• For the spread, place the cream cheese, goat cheese, garlic, thyme, parsley, 5 tablespoons milk, salt and pepper in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until well mixed. Add an additional tablespoon of milk if the spread is very thick. To make the sandwiches, spread each slice of bread with the goat cheese spread. Slice the cucumber into thin rounds and arrange on half of the bread slices. Top with the remaining bread. Press slightly, trim off the crusts and cut the sandwiches into halves, thirds or triangles. Make these sandwiches in the morning, then cover with damp paper towels and plastic wrap and refrigerate. Cut just before serving.

HERB COATED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Arrange the bread slices on 2 heavy baking sheets. Drizzle 3 tablespoons of olive oil over the bread slices. Bake until the crostini are pale golden and crisp, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir the herbs, lemon zest, pepper, and salt in a medium bowl to blend. Using about 2 teaspoons of cheese for each, form the goat cheese into 1-inch diameter balls. Roll the cheese balls in the herb mixture to coat completely. Arrange the cheese balls on a platter. Drizzle the extra-virgin olive oil over and around the cheese balls. Serve with the crostini. Garnish with herb sprigs.
• The crostini and cheese balls can be prepared 1 day ahead. Store the crostini in an airtight container at room temperature. Cover and refrigerate the cheese balls.

HERBED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Add the goat cheese, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, thyme and pepper to a stand mixer fitted with the beater attachment. Mix on low speed until you have a smooth, blended paste, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the mixer bowl and mix again. With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour in the lemon juice and beer; mix until all of the liquid is absorbed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix one last time to ensure all the ingredients are fully incorporated and evenly dispersed.

HERBED COATED GOAT CHEESE BALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Arrange bread slices on 2 heavy baking sheets. Drizzle 3 tablespoons of olive oil over the bread. Bake until crostini are pale golden and crisp, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir herbs, lemon zest, pepper, and salt in a medium bowl to blend. Using about 2 teaspoons of cheese for each, form the goat cheese into 1" balls. Roll cheese balls in the herb mixture to coat completely. Arrange balls on a platter.
• Drizzle extra virgin olive oil over and around the cheese balls. Serve with crostini. Garnish with herb sprigs.
• Can prepare crostini and cheese balls 1 day ahead. Store crostini in air tight container at room temperature. COver and refrigerate cheese balls.