Description
Crispy homemade fried goat cheese creates a luxurious appetizer with delicate herbal notes. Mediterranean-inspired flavors meld seamlessly, offering you a delightful culinary experience perfect for elegant gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) goat cheese log (3x 4-oz logs), room temperature
- 1 egg
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp honey (plus more for garnish)
- 1 tsp dried tarragon
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- Pinch of black pepper
- Splash of water
- Canola oil for frying
- Salt and pepper, as needed
- Optional: red pepper flakes
- Optional: chives
- Optional: crushed pistachios
Instructions
- Preparation: Blend softened goat cheese with finely chopped tarragon, honey, salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl until smooth and well-seasoned.
- Shaping: Form the cheese mixture into 12-14 uniform spheres, ensuring consistent size and shape.
- Coating Setup: Create a three-stage breading station with seasoned flour, egg wash (whisked with water), and panko breadcrumbs seasoned with salt and pepper.
- Breading Process: Roll each cheese ball first in flour, dip thoroughly in egg wash, then coat completely with seasoned breadcrumbs.
- Chilling: Freeze the breaded cheese spheres for 20 minutes to firm up and maintain structural integrity during frying.
- Frying Technique: Heat canola oil to 350°F in a deep, heavy-bottomed pot. Carefully lower chilled cheese balls in small batches, frying until golden brown and crispy (2-3 minutes).
- Finishing Touch: Drain fried goat cheese on paper towels to remove excess oil. Drizzle with additional honey and garnish with optional red pepper flakes, chopped chives, or crushed pistachios for enhanced flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Chill Before Frying: Freezing the cheese balls for 20 minutes is crucial to prevent melting and help maintain their perfect spherical shape during frying.
- Temperature Control Matters: Maintain oil at exactly 350°F for golden, crispy exterior without burning or undercooking the delicate cheese.
- Batch Frying Technique: Fry in small groups to ensure even browning and prevent oil temperature drop, which can result in greasy cheese balls.
- Seasoning Layers: Integrate salt and pepper at multiple stages (cheese mixture, flour, breadcrumbs) to build complex, balanced flavor profiles throughout the coating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg