Goat Cheese, Fennel Juice, Fried Leeks
While thinking of a condiment to accompany a creamy, herbaceous goat cheese, I began envisioning a light, intense vinaigrette of sorts to drizzle around cheese for a burst of complimentary flavors - something to further enhance and accent the natural flavors of the grassy, soft goat cheese.
While staring at the veggies in the market, my gaze focused on fennel. The fronds, in particular, were of interest to me. Sure enough, I juiced the fronds and some of the stems that connected the fronds to the bulb. A bit of salt, pepper, a squeeze of lemon juice and a whisk of extra virgin olive oil produced a fragrant, light dressing that exploded with a mellow fennel flavor. For texture, I fried some leeks in olive oil to add a crunchy bite of onion flavor to the creamy cheese.
The process of eating this cheese was perfect for an appetizer to share with guests. Simply slice off a bit of your goat cheese, bath it gently in the fennel juice vinaigrette, and smear it onto a cracker or piece of toasted crostini. I know that none of the ingredients here are particularly Spring focused, but somehow this dish tasted like a bite of Spring to me.
Oh, MAN does this ever look and sound good. I have been obsessed with all things anise-y lately - and goat cheese and leeks are perennial faves.
I'd love to try this but I don't have a blender - do you think it would work to whiz the fennel juice ingredients up in a blender and maybe strain them?
Posted by: Jennifer Hess | May 01, 2007 at 05:24 PM
Uh, that was meant to read that I don't have a JUICER. I do have a blender. :)
Posted by: Jennifer Hess | May 01, 2007 at 05:25 PM
I recently enjoyed sauteed leeks and a goat cheese salad - they were not in the same dish and I would not think it would have worked - until I saw this post.
I heart goat cheese.
Posted by: Doug | May 01, 2007 at 10:54 PM
jen, i would tend to think blending and straining wouldn't work but i could be wrong. if you try it, report back with results!
i bought a waring juicer that is cheap yet awesome...doesn't take up much counter space and it's paid me back 10 fold. here's a link....
http://yourhealthhut.com/product/B000HNAQN6/Merchant/Waring-JEX-328-Juicer-JEX328.htm
Posted by: joe | May 02, 2007 at 11:29 AM