Goat Cheese Terrine: A Creamy, Tangy Delicacy Explained

A goat cheese terrine is a French dish that is easy to make and can be served as an appetizer or a starter. It is made with layers of soft goat cheese, pesto, vegetables, and nuts, and is usually chilled or refrigerated before serving. The ingredients are mixed, layered, and moulded into a loaf or pâté shape, often lined with plastic wrap for easy removal. The terrine is then sliced and served with crackers, crostini, or bread.

Goat cheese terrine ingredients

A goat cheese terrine is a fancy yet easy-to-make dish that can be served as an appetizer or a starter. It is typically made with layers of soft goat cheese, vegetables, herbs, and nuts, and is shaped using a mold or loaf pan. Here is a list of ingredients that you can use to make a delicious goat cheese terrine:

Base Ingredients:

• Goat Cheese: Soft goat cheese is the star ingredient, providing a tangy and creamy flavor.
• Cream Cheese: Cream cheese, such as Philadelphia cream cheese, can be mixed with goat cheese to create a smoother and more spreadable consistency.
• Crème Fraîche: This adds richness and tanginess to the cheese mixture.
• Pesto: Arugula pesto or traditional basil pesto is used to create a layer of flavor and color.
• Vegetables: Various vegetables can be used, such as roasted red peppers, zucchini, spring onions, or beetroot. They add texture, flavor, and a pop of color.
• Nuts: Toasted walnuts, pine nuts, or hazelnuts provide a crunchy contrast to the creamy cheese and can be used for garnish as well.
• Spices and Seasonings: Salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and crushed coriander seeds enhance the flavor of the terrine.

Additional Ingredients for Serving:

• Olive Oil: Drizzling extra virgin olive oil over the terrine adds a rich and fruity flavor.
• Bread: Crusty bread, crostini, or sliced bread is the perfect accompaniment for spreading the goat cheese terrine.
• Crackers: These provide a crunchy base for the terrine and can be served alongside the bread.
• Garnishes: Watercress, dill fronds, chives, or basil leaves add a fresh touch to the dish.
• Lemon Wedges: Adding a squeeze of lemon juice can brighten up the flavors.

With these ingredients, you can create a beautiful and delicious goat cheese terrine that is perfect for entertaining or enjoying as a special treat.

How to make goat cheese terrine

A goat cheese terrine is a fancy yet easy-to-make dish that is perfect for serving at dinner parties. The following recipe combines goat cheese with pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, and pine nuts to create a rich and tangy flavour profile.

Ingredients:

• 11 ounces goat cheese, room temperature
• 1/4 cup heavy cream (plus more if needed)
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 4 tablespoons pesto (homemade or store-bought)
• 5 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and finely chopped
• Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling
• Freshly ground black pepper for garnish
• Pine nuts, toasted, for garnish
• Crackers or sliced bread for serving

Method:

• Line a 2-cup bowl with sharply sloped sides with plastic wrap, ensuring the plastic extends over the sides of the bowl.
• In a large mixing bowl, mash the goat cheese, cream, salt, and pepper until well blended. Add more cream if the mixture is too dry.
• Spoon about 1/3 of the goat cheese mixture into the prepared bowl and spread it evenly.
• Spread the pesto over the cheese, ensuring it reaches the outer edges so that some of the basil is visible in the finished terrine.
• Top the pesto with another 1/3 of the cheese, spreading it gently to cover the pesto evenly.
• Add a layer of sun-dried tomatoes, followed by a sprinkle of pine nuts.
• Finally, add the remaining layer of goat cheese.
• Fold the plastic wrap over the top of the final layer of cheese and gently pack it down.
• Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or longer if desired.
• About 30 minutes before serving, remove the terrine from the refrigerator and place the bowl in a shallow bowl of very warm water for about 30 seconds.
• Pull on the edges of the plastic wrap to loosen the terrine from the bowl and place your serving dish over the bowl, ensuring the plastic edges are not underneath.
• Invert the terrine onto the serving dish. If it does not slide out immediately, leave it inverted for a minute to allow the weight to break the suction.
• Once the terrine is out, gently remove the plastic wrap.
• Drizzle with olive oil and let it sit for 30 minutes to warm up.
• Sprinkle with the remaining pine nuts and freshly ground black pepper.
• Serve with crackers or sliced bread.

Variations:

You can also make a goat cheese terrine with arugula pesto and roasted red peppers, or try a beetroot and goat's cheese terrine for a colourful option.

Goat cheese terrine serving suggestions

Goat cheese terrine is a fancy yet easy-to-make dish that can be served as an appetizer or a part of a gastropub-inspired menu. Here are some serving suggestions for this delicious treat:

Presentation

Before serving, remember to invert the goat cheese terrine onto a serving plate or board. You can do this by placing the mould in a shallow bowl of warm water for about 30 seconds to release any suction. You can also place it upside down on the serving dish and let the weight of the terrine break the suction. Once out of the mould, gently remove the plastic wrap, and let the terrine sit for about half an hour to warm up.

Garnishes

Drizzle the terrine with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper, pine nuts, walnuts, or hazelnuts. You can also scatter some herbs like dill, chives, or basil leaves on top.

Accompaniments

Goat cheese terrine pairs well with crackers, crostini, or chunks of crusty bread. You can also serve it with bread slices or crackers on the side, allowing your guests to spread the terrine as they please. For a more filling meal, serve it as part of a gastropub-inspired menu, followed by individual fish pies and a classic treacle tart.

Sides

For a refreshing side, serve a salad of watercress, arugula, or other salad leaves. You can also provide lemon wedges on the side for an extra burst of flavour.

Goat cheese terrine setting time

A goat cheese terrine is a French dish that is quite easy to make and can be served with crackers or sliced bread. It is usually made with layers of soft goat cheese, pesto, and vegetables like roasted red peppers, beetroot, or sun-dried tomatoes. The setting time for a goat cheese terrine is at least 2 hours but preferably overnight.

To make a goat cheese terrine, you will need the following ingredients:

• Goat cheese
• Crème fraiche or heavy cream
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Pesto
• Vegetables of your choice (roasted red peppers, beetroot, sun-dried tomatoes, etc.)
• Nuts (walnuts, pine nuts, or hazelnuts)
• Olive oil
• Garlic
• Shallots
• Vegetables like spring onions, zucchini, and peppers
• Cayenne pepper

You will also need a terrine form or loaf pan, plastic wrap, a cutting board, a knife, a large frying pan, a cooking spoon, and a small saucepan.

• Line the inside of a 2-cup sharply sloping bowl, about 4” across, with plastic wrap. Let the ends extend over the sides by a few inches.
• In a medium bowl, mash the goat cheese, crème fraiche or heavy cream, salt, and pepper until well blended.
• Spoon about 1/3 of the goat cheese mixture into the prepared bowl and spread it evenly.
• Spread a layer of pesto across the top, almost to the edges.
• Top with another 1/3 of the cheese, spreading evenly.
• Add a layer of vegetables and press down lightly.
• Repeat the layers until all the ingredients have been used.
• Fold the extra plastic wrap ends over the top and gently push down.
• Refrigerate for at least 2 hours but preferably overnight.
• To serve, remove the terrine by pulling on the plastic ends and place it on a platter, inverted.
• Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with nuts and pepper, if desired.

The key to a successful goat cheese terrine is to ensure that the ingredients are well-layered and pressed down firmly so that the layers stay intact when the terrine is inverted for serving. It is also important to chill the terrine for at least the minimum recommended time to allow it to set properly.

Goat cheese terrine alternatives

A goat cheese terrine is a French dish that is quite easy to make and can be served as an appetizer or a starter. It is made with layers of soft goat cheese, pesto, and vegetables such as sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, and zucchini. The terrine is then chilled and served with crackers, crostini, or sliced bread.

If you are looking for alternatives to a goat cheese terrine, here are some options that are similar in style, taste, or ingredients:

• Vegetable Terrine with Beetroot and Goat's Cheese: This is a vegetarian option that uses beetroot, goat's cheese, soft cheese, and herbs. The terrine is made by layering beetroot slices and a mixture of the cheeses and herbs, then chilling it overnight. It is served with toast and salad leaves.
• Goat Cheese Terrine with Arugula Pesto and Roasted Red Peppers: This recipe replaces the sun-dried tomatoes in the original goat cheese terrine with roasted red peppers and arugula pesto. It is served with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, black pepper, and chopped walnuts, and can be paired with crackers, crostini, or crusty bread.
• Hummus, Baba Ghanoush, and Carrot Salad Trio: This option is a combination of three different dips or spreads—hummus, baba ghanoush, and a carrot salad. It can be served as a starter or appetizer, similar to the goat cheese terrine, and provides a variety of flavors and textures.
• Strawberry and Asparagus Salad: A light and refreshing salad that combines sweet strawberries with asparagus. This dish can be served as a starter or a side and offers a contrast of flavors and textures.
• Peach Caprese Salad with Basil Oil: This salad is a twist on the traditional Caprese salad, using peaches instead of tomatoes. The sweetness of the peaches pairs well with the basil oil and fresh mozzarella, creating a flavorful and summery dish.

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