Baked Goat Cheese In Phyllo With Baby Greens Herbs Recipes

GOAT CHEESE, CHARD AND HERB PIE IN A PHYLLO CRUST

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil while you stem and wash the Swiss chard. If the stems are wide and meaty set them aside for another purpose. If they are thin and sinewy, discard. When the water comes to a boil salt generously and add the chard leaves. Fill a bowl with cold water. Blanch the chard for 1 minute, just until tender, and transfer to the bowl of cold water. Drain, take up the chard by the handful and squeeze out excess water. Chop medium-fine. You should have about 1 cup chopped cooked chard.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Blend together the eggs and goat cheese, either in an electric mixer or in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the milk and the garlic and blend until smooth. If using a processor, scrape into a bowl. Stir in the blanched chopped chard, the herbs, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Brush a 9- or 10-inch tart pan or cake pan with olive oil and place on a baking sheet for easier handling. Open up the package of phyllo and unfold the sheets of dough. Remove 8 sheets of phyllo and fold the remaining dough back up. Wrap tightly in plastic, return to the box if you wish and either refrigerate or freeze. Lay a sheet of phyllo in the pan, tucking it into the seam of the pan, with the edges overhanging the rim. Brush it lightly with olive oil (or melted butter and oil) and turn the pan slightly, then place another sheet on top, positioning it so that the edges overlap another section of the pan's rim. Continue to layer in 6 more sheets of phyllo, brushing each one with oil - both the bottom and the sides and edges that overhang the pan -- and staggering them so that the overhang on the rim of the pan is evenly distributed and covers the entire pan.
• Pour the goat cheese and chard filling into the phyllo-lined pan, scraping all of it out of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Scrunch the overhanging phyllo in around the edges of the pan to form an attractive lip. Brush the scrunched rim with olive oil. Place in the oven and bake 40 minutes, until the filling is puffed, set and lightly colored on the surface. Remove from the heat (if it puffed up it will settle) and allow to sit for at least 10 minutes before cutting. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

WARM GOAT CHEESE IN PHYLLO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Unroll the sheets of phyllo dough on a flat surface and cover them with a slightly damp towel. (If the towel is too wet, the dough will get sticky.) Working quickly so the dough doesn't dry out, place one sheet of phyllo on a board, brush lightly with melted butter, and sprinkle lightly with bread crumbs. Place a second sheet of phyllo on top, brush with melted butter, and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Continue until you have 4 sheets stacked up. Cut the sheets in half crosswise to make 2 almost-squares.
• Cut one of the goat cheeses in half horizontally, making 2 thin discs. Place each disc in the center of one phyllo square. Starting at one corner, fold the phyllo up over the cheese and continue folding and pleating the phyllo around the cheese, as though you're wrapping a round gift that's tied on top. You will end with extra phyllo dough on top; twist the excess into a topknot. Brush the discs all over with melted butter and place on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Continue with the remaining phyllo dough and 2 goat cheese discs to make 4 additional packages.
• Bake for 20 minutes, until the phyllo is lightly browned. Allow to cool for 5 minutes.
• While the cheese packages bake, place the salad greens in a large bowl. Whisk the vinegar, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl. Still whisking, slowly add the olive oil, making an emulsion. Toss the salad greens with enough vinaigrette to moisten.
• Distribute the salad among 6 plates and place one warm goat cheese package in the center of each plate. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve.

BAKED GOAT CHEESE IN PHYLLO WITH BABY GREENS HERBS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Toss garlic with 1 tablespoon oil in small baking dish. Roast until garlic is very tender, about 20 minutes. Peel garlic. Transfer to small bowl. Mash to paste. Stir in goat cheese and basil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Arrange 1 phyllo sheet so that 1 long side is parallel to edge of work surface. Brush half of phyllo crosswise with butter. Fold unbuttered half over as for book. Brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 tablespoons breadcrumbs. Spoon 1/4 of goat cheese mixture along bottom edge of phyllo, leaving 1/2-inch border at bottom and on each side. Fold short sides in. Fold long edge over and roll up as for jelly roll. Place phyllo roll, seam side down, on heavy large baking sheet. Brush with butter. Repeat with remaining phyllo, butter, breadcrumbs and goat cheese mixture. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover tightly with plastic and refrigerate.)
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Bake phyllo rolls until golden, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk vinegar, shallot and remaining 1 cup oil in small bowl until well blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix tarragon, chives and parsley in small bowl. Place greens in large bowl.
• Toss salad with enough dressing to season to taste. Divide among 6 plates. Using serrated knife, cut each phyllo roll diagonally into 2-inch slices. Arrange around edge of salads. Sprinkle herb mixture over salads.

BABY GREENS WITH WARM GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Whisk together egg white and water. Dip cheese rounds in egg, letting excess drip off, then dredge in bread crumbs, pressing lightly to adhere. Chill 15 minutes.
• Whisk together vinegar, salt, mustard, sugar, and a pinch of pepper in a small salad bowl. Add 1 tablespoon oil in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified.
• Heat remaining teaspoon oil in a small nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté cheese until golden, about 30 seconds per side. Remove skillet from heat.
• Add greens to dressing and toss gently to coat. Serve salad topped with warm cheese.