Warm Tomatoes With Fried Thyme And Goats Cheese Recipes

BAKED TOMATOES WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Homemade Seasoned Bread Crumbs (can be made ahead):
• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Add 4 cups cubed Italian bread to a food processor. Add garlic powder, dried basil, dried oregano and dried thyme. Process mixture until you have a crumbly mixture, with some fine pieces but a few larger, pea-sized pieces. Scatter crumbs evenly onto a baking sheet.
• Bake crumbs in a 350F oven for 8-9 minutes, stirring several times while baking. Remove from oven and sprinkle with salt and freshly ground peppers. Stir seasoning in, then allow to cool completely on baking sheet. Use immediately or store in an airtight container.
• For the Baked Tomatoes: Cut the tomatoes in half just above the equator (cutting about the top 1/3 off). Discard top or trim and use for a salad. With the bottoms, cut through the spine and dig out the seeds and membrane with a spoon or your hands. Discard seedy bits. Sprinkle the insides of the tomato shells with salt and freshly ground pepper. Place upside down on a doubled-up piece of paper towel and let stand 5-10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Prepare the crumb topping by combining the bread crumbs, garlic cloves, chopped parsley and chopped basil. Pour the melted butter overtop and mix until the crumbs are moistened. Set aside.
• Place drained tomatoes right-side up on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spoon one heaping tablespoon of goat cheese into the centre of each tomato. Grind a bit of pepper on top of the goat cheese. Divide the bread crumb mixture evenly on top of the 4 tomatoes.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the topping is golden. Allow to stand a few minutes, before eating warm.

WARM GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Slice the goat cheese into 12 (1/2-inch-thick) slices. Dip each slice into the egg wash and then into the bread crumbs, being sure the cheese is thoroughly coated. Place the slices on a baking rack set on a sheet pan and chill for at least 15 minutes.
• Heat the oil and butter in a medium saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the goat cheese slices and cook on both sides until browned on the outside but not melted inside.

BAKED TOMATOES WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Slice off the tops of 4 large beefsteak tomatoes; scoop out the seeds and some of the flesh. Drizzle with olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Fill each tomato with 1 ounce crumbled goat cheese. Combine 1/2 cup panko, 2 tablespoons each olive oil, grated Parmesan and chopped parsley, 1 grated garlic clove, 1 teaspoon each fresh thyme and grated lemon zest and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; sprinkle on the tomatoes. Bake at 450˚ F until golden brown, about 10 minutes.

CRISPY GOAT CHEESE APPETIZERS

Steps:

• Freeze cheese for 15 minutes. Unwrap and cut into 1/4-in. slices., Place flour and eggs in separate shallow bowls. In another shallow bowl, combine the bread crumbs, thyme, garlic powder and salt. Dip cheese slices in the flour, eggs, then bread crumb mixture., In an electric skillet, heat oil to 375°. Fry cheese slices, a few at a time, for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels., Garnish each appetizer with a tomato half and basil leaf. Drizzle with vinegar; top with pine nuts. Serve warm.

SALAD WITH WARM GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Slice the Montrachet into 12 (1/2-inch-thick) slices. (The easiest way to slice goat cheese is to use a length of dental floss.) Dip each slice into the beaten egg whites, then the bread crumbs, being sure the cheese is thoroughly coated. Place the slices on a rack and chill them for at least 15 minutes.
• For the dressing, place the vinegars, sugar, salt, pepper, and egg yolk in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and blend for 1 minute. With the motor running, slowly pour the olive oil through the feed tube until the vinaigrette is thickened. Season, to taste.
• Toss the salad greens with enough dressing to moisten, then divide them among 6 plates.
• Melt 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a saute pan over medium-high heat until just under smoking. Cook the goat cheese rounds quickly on both sides until browned on the outside but not melted inside. Top each salad with 2 warm rounds and serve.

WARM TOMATOES WITH FRIED THYME AND GOAT'S CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil and thyme sprigs in a frying pan on med heat. Let the olive oil absorb the flavor of the thyme, until the thyme starts to fry. Turn down the heat to low and slice the tomatoes into thick-ish slices (1cm slices) and add the tomatoes to the pan. Gently warm the tomatoes, careful not to actually cook them, about 5 minutes While the tomatoes are warming, add the chilled goat's cheese to a serving plate. When tomatoes are warm and not yet cooked (skins still attached), pour contents of pan over goat's cheese. Add some fresh olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy with a fresh rustic baked baguette.

TOMATO & GOAT CHEESE CROSTATA

Steps:

• For the pastry, place the flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and pulse to combine. Add the diced butter and toss carefully with your fingers to coat each piece of butter with flour. Pulse 12 to 15 times, until the butter is the size of peas. While pulsing, add the ice water all at once through the feed tube. Pulse to combine, stopping just before the dough forms a ball. Turn the dough out onto a well-floured board and form it into a disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for one hour.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450˚ F. Heat the 4 tablespoons butter in a large (12-inch) sauté pan over medium to medium-high heat. Add the leeks, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and sauté for 8 minutes, until the leeks are tender and starting to brown. Set aside. Place the tomatoes on a plate, sprinkle them with salt and pepper and drizzle lightly with olive oil. Set aside.
• On a floured board, roll the dough into an 11-inch circle, then place it on a sheet of parchment paper. Turn a sheet pan upside down and transfer the paper to the inverted pan. Spread the leeks on the pastry, leaving a 1 1/2-inch border. Crumble the goat cheese evenly on top. Arrange the tomatoes over the goat cheese, overlapping the slices because they will shrink. Turn the edges of the pastry up and over the tomatoes, crimping so they lie flat. Brush the pastry with the egg wash. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the pastry is nicely browned. Allow to cool on the pan for 5 minutes, sprinkle lightly with the fresh herbs and salt, cut in wedges and serve warm.

TOMATO AND GOAT CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 10-inch tart pan and line it with the pastry. Keep in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.
• Brush the mustard over the bottom of the dough. Slice the tomatoes and arrange over the mustard in concentric circles, overlapping them slightly. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and the herbs.
• Beat together the eggs and goat cheese. Season with salt and pepper and pour over the tomatoes. Drizzle on the olive oil. Place in the oven and bake 30 to 40 minutes, until the top is nicely browned. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature.