Pesto Cheese Terrine Recipes

GOAT CHEESE, PESTO AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO TERRINE

Steps:

• In a small dry pan, toast the pine nuts over medium heat until lightly golden brown. Remove from the heat and pour onto a plate to cool. (The nuts will continue to cook after you remove them from the heat so be sure that you don't let them brown too much - they can easily burn!)
• Line a 2 cup bowl (try to use a bowl with sharply sloped sides) with a piece of plastic wrap. (Be sure to cut a large enough piece of plastic wrap that you have several inches of plastic wrap extended over the sides of the bowl.)
• In a large mixing bowl with a fork, mash together the goat cheese, ¼ cup of cream, salt and a few grinds of black pepper and mix until well blended. If the goat cheese seems very dry, add up to another ¼ cup of cream - you want the mixture to be soft but not soggy.
• Spoon about 1/3rd of the goat cheese into the lined bowl, pressing down gently with a spoon to pack the cheese into an even layer. The spread the pesto over the cheese covering it completely (you will want some of the basil to peak out of the finished terrine, so make sure the pesto reaches the outer edges). Then top the pesto with another 1/3rd of the cheese (I found it helpful to drop the cheese with a teaspoon all over the pesto and then gently spread to cover the pesto evenly). Next, add the sun-dried tomatoes in a layer and sprinkle with all but about ½ tablespoon of the toasted pine nuts. Finally, add the remaining layer of goat cheese.
• Fold the plastic wrap edges over the top of the final layer of cheese and gently pack down. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (may be refrigerated for longer).
• About a ½ hour before serving, remove the terrine from the refrigerator. Place the bowl in a shallow bowl of very warm water for about 30 seconds (you only want the warm water to go halfway up the bowl). Then pull on the edges of the plastic wrap to loosen the terrine from the bowl.
• Place your serving dish over the glass bowl, making sure that the plastic edges are not under the terrine. Then invert the terrine onto your serving dish. If the terrine does not slide out immediately, leave it inverted for about a minute to allow the weight of the terrine to break the suction in the bottom of the bowl. If it still doesn't come out, try placing the bowl in warm water again and repeat the above steps.
• Once the terrine is out, gently peel off the plastic wrap. Drizzle with a little olive oil and let sit for half an hour to warm up. Sprinkle with the remaining pine nuts and some freshly ground black pepper. Serve with crackers or sliced bread.

ITALIAN CHEESE TERRINE

Steps:

• For sauce: Drain whole tomatoes, reserving 1/4 cup juice.
• Chop tomatoes and set aside.
• Cook onion and garlic in olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly, until tender.
• Stir in chopped tomato, 1/4 cup reserved juice, bay leaves, sugar and basil; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat, and simmer, stirring often, 3-5 minutes or until thickened; remove from heat.
• Remove and discard bay leaves; stir in sun-dried tomatoes.
• Cover and chill at least 2 hours.
• For terrine: Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with mixer until creamy.
• Add parmesan and pesto; beat until smooth.
• Set mixture aside.
• Line a 3-cup bowl or mold with plastic wrap, allowing edges to overhang 6-7 inches.
• Diagonally cut 5 slices Muenster cheese in half; arrange cheese triangles in bowl, slightly overlapping to line bowl.
• Spread half of cream cheese mixture over cheese; top with half of basil-tomato sauce.
• Cut 2 slices Muenster cheese in half crosswise; arrange cheese rectangles over tomato mixture.
• Repeat with remaining cream cheese mixture, basil-tomato sauce and 2 slices Muenster cheese cut into rectangles.
• Fold plastic wrap over layers, sealing securely; place a heavy object on top to compact layers.
• Chill at least 8 hours or up to 3 days.
• To serve: Invert terrine onto a serving platter, peel off plastic wrap.

SUN-DRIED TOMATOES AND CHEESE TERRINE

Steps:

• Line a 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, draping the wrap over the sides and ends of the pan (Just like lining a shoe box with tissue paper).
• Spread one cup of the Fontina cheese on the bottom of prepared pan, covering entire surface.
• In a small bowl, use a fork to combine the cream cheese and goat cheese, mixing thoroughly.
• Spread half the cream cheese mixture over Fontina cheese layer.
• Spread half the pesto over cream cheese layer.
• Spread half the sun-dried tomatoes over pesto layer.
• Sprinkle half the pine nuts over tomato layer. Press down lightly with your hands.
• Sprinkle one cup Fontina over pine nuts.
• Repeat all layers , ending with a layer of Fontina cheese on top. Your loaf will be about 3" high.
• Fold plastic wrap over surface of cheese and cover pan with aluminum foil. Refrigerate until ready to serve, or freeze for up to one month. To defrost, remove from freezer and let stand at room temperature for about 8 hours.
• When ready to serve. Unwrap top of loaf pan and invert the pan onto a platter. Lift pan up and remove foil and plastic wrap.
• Serve with crackers or pita bread wedges.

PESTO-PROVOLONE TERRINE

Steps:

• Line a 7-1/2 x 3-1/2x2-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, extending wrap beyond edges of pan; set aside.
• In a medium mixing bowl beat cream cheese and pesto with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Lay 2 slices of the provolone cheese in bottom and slightly up sides of pan. Spread half of the pesto mixture on cheese layer. Repeat layers; top with remaining 2 slices of provolone cheese. Cover surface with plastic wrap. Weight it down with a can of soup or vegetables. Chill overnight.
• To serve, remove plastic wrap from top of terrine. Invert onto a serving plate and remove plastic wrap. Cut terrine lengthwise in half. Cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Serve with baguette slices or crackers. If desired, garnish with basil leaves. Makes 24 to 28 servings.
• VARIATION: Mix cream cheese and pesto. Refridgerate to integrate flavors. Swap shredded provolone for the slices. Spread cream cheese mixture on baguette slices, sprinkle w/shredded provolone & broil till bubbly.
• VARIATION: Mix cream cheese and pesto. Omit provolone. Microwave cream cheese mixture till melted and dip consistency. Serve w/breadsticks or crackers for dipping.