Charred Goat Cheese Queso Fundido with black truffles and honey – a Valentine’s day treat for two you won’t soon forget!
I was in Target on Monday and skipped down to the holiday/seasonal section (hoping to catch a fleeting glimpse of Christmas before it was stripped down) and to my horror, I saw that the worst has already been done. The last remnants of scented pine cones and stockings, gift boxes and ornaments were tucked away at a 50% sale and displayed in it’s place were products for Valentine’s day! Can you believe it! It was just Jan 3rd!
Clearly the world is already planning for their Valentines and to keep up, so must I. And this is the first dish that popped into my head (not that I ever stopped thinking of it!).
I sampled this glorious Charred Goat Cheese Queso Fundido on my recent trip to LA at Pueblo, Costa Mesa and was instantly struck with it’s simple, yet complex flavours. Of course, truffles have a way of doing that – one simple ingredient that elevates everything else.
Combine all the ingredients together and bake until the cheese bubbles. Take it a step further and use a blow torch to char the tops of the molten cheese – adding a little smokiness to the flavours already in play.
Be sure to slice up some baguette and toast till crisp. Keep ready so as soon as the goat cheese comes bubbling out of the oven, you needn’t wait a second before dunking in!
Speaking of which…
When you make these (which I really think you SHOULD!), be sure to SHARE YOUR PHOTOS with me through Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. I’d love to see what you cook from here and will share it with pride on my social media feeds.
Are you already planning your Valentine’s day? Let me know!
Charred Goat Cheese Queso Fundido
- Prep Time:3m
- Cook Time:15m
- Total Time:18m
- Serves: 2
Ingredients
- 4 oz (113g) goat cheese, crumbled
- 2 -3 slices of Black truffle + oil, chopped finely
- 1 tsp. honey
- 1 tsp. olive oil + for brushing
- Salt, to taste
For Garnishing
- 1 stalk of spring onion, chopped
- 2 tbsp. red bell pepper, chopped
To Serve
- 1/2 baguette, sliced 1/4 inch
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F/200°C.
- Sauté the chopped red bell pepper in a few drops of oil till soft. Set aside.
- Combine goat cheese, chopped black truffle and honey in an oven-safe bowl. Drizzle the top with 1 tsp olive oil and a few drops of truffle oil.
- Bake at 400°F/200°C for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and the tops begin to turn golden brown.
- Using a blow torch and working quickly, char the tops lightly.
- Top with the cooked red bell pepper, chopped spring onion and serve hot with toasted baguette slices.
Toasting baguette
- Brush both sides of the baguette slices with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt. Place on a small baking tray lined with foil.
- Bake prepared baguette slices in a preheated oven at 375°F/190°C for 10 minutes or until browned.
Igor @ Cooking The Globe says
Wow, that’s a perfect appetizer. I can already imagine myself dipping baguette into this goodness. Yum!
Tina Dawson says
Thanks Igor! 🙂
Meg | Meg is Well says
Oh my gosh this is making me drool. I’ve yet to cook with truffles-I’ve used truffle oil and salt so far and have loved it, especially paired with cheese and honey, so I know I would love this. Forget sharing this on Valentine’s Day-I’ll just make it and horde it all to myself.
Tina Dawson says
Oh Meg, you are just like me – in the name of testing I’ve made this thrice in three weeks – (psst: It came out great the first time!)
Karen Burns-Booth says
Such a pretty and very tasty dish and perfect for the new year too! I LOVE truffles and truffle oil, Karen
Tina Dawson says
Thanks Karen!
Just Jo says
Oh gawd I love queso fundido and you have made it look so stunning with your beautiful photos! The recipe sounds fabulous too.
Tina Dawson says
Thanks Jo!
linda spiker says
Beautiful! I love goat cheese so this is right up my alley.
Tina Dawson says
This queso turned me around on goat cheese – I didn’t love it as much before I had these at Pueblo!