Description
A simple yet elegant goat cheese appetizer featuring creamy goat cheese topped with a warm fig jam mixture, crunchy pecans, fresh thyme, and a drizzle of honey and balsamic vinegar. Perfect for entertaining and easy to prepare in just 10 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 300 g softened goat cheese (about 1 1/4 – 1 1/3 cups)
- 1/2 cup fig jam
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2-3 sprigs of thyme, leaves removed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Crostini or crackers for serving
Instructions
- Prepare Goat Cheese: Spread the softened goat cheese evenly on a low bowl or plate and drizzle with olive oil to enhance flavor and texture.
- Make Fig Jam Mixture: In a small pot over medium heat, combine honey, fig jam, and balsamic vinegar. Whisk continuously and heat the mixture for about 5 minutes until warmed through and blended.
- Cool Mixture: Remove the pot from heat and allow the fig jam mixture to cool slightly for about 5 minutes to avoid melting the cheese when applied.
- Assemble Topping: Gently drizzle or spread the warm fig jam mixture over the goat cheese layer, ensuring an even coverage.
- Add Garnishes: Sprinkle fresh thyme leaves and chopped pecans on top for added aroma and crunch.
- Season and Serve: Add a pinch of sea salt on top to taste, and serve the appetizer alongside crostini or crackers.
Notes
- To make your own crostini, preheat the oven to 400°F. Slice a baguette into 1-inch thick slices. Brush one side of each slice with olive oil and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes, flip, and bake an additional 5 minutes until toasted.
- For make-ahead preparation, warm the fig jam mixture and let it cool completely. Spread over the goat cheese just before serving for optimal freshness.
- Pecans can be substituted with chopped walnuts for a different nutty flavor and texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
