Have you ever considered tossing a container of salsa over a mixture of goat cheese, cream cheese, and toasted pine nuts – and then baking it off in the oven until heated through?
If not, I invite you to try it. It’s probably the easiest and quickest appetizer ever to exist, and it’s also super-delicious.
Now, you know I don’t usually condone using store-bought salsa, but here that’s the route I like to go. It makes this dip *that* much easier, and when you’re working with a recipe as simple as this one, it just doesn’t make any sense to complicate things.
It matches my feelings about why I like to cook from scratch in general, really: If I’m going to the trouble to make something special, like a pie for instance, then I’m not taking any shortcuts – I’m making my crust from scratch. But in a situation like this, when I’m throwing together a last-minute dip for impromptu cocktails, let’s say…use the dang pre-made salsa.
{Just make sure it’s the refrigerated higher-quality stuff – you didn’t think you were getting off that easy, did you?}
Salsa-Baked Goat Cheese
Adapted from Rick Bayless, via Epicurious and my favorite cookbook
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 1 4-ounce log goat cheese
- 1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup salsa, store-bought or homemade
- Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the pine nuts on a baking sheet and toast them in the oven until lightly browned and very fragrant, 6 or 7 minutes (watch closely, because the pine nuts are tiny and they will burn quickly. I sometimes do this in a pan on the stove-top, just so I can keep my eye on it). Remove nuts and set them aside in a bowl.
Add cheeses to the bowl and combine thoroughly with the nuts. Scoop this mixture in the center of a baking dish, like a decorative 9-inch pie pan, and form it into a 5-inch-diameter disk. Spoon the salsa over and around the cheese. Place the dish in the oven and bake until heated through, 10 to 15 minutes. Garnish with cilantro, and serve with pita triangles or tortilla chips.
Serves 4 – 6.
Do you have a favorite last-minute recipe for entertaining?
Oooh yum! I’m definitely saving this recipe for a quick holiday app. My favorite last minute recipe for entertaining is this creamy avocado dip made with greek yogurt: http://www.greensnchocolate.com/2010/04/creamy-avocado-dip.html
I also love bacon wrapped dates – so easy and tasty!!
Taylor recently posted..pumpkin crumb coffee cake
Taylor, I have yet to try bacon-wrapped dates – but it’s been on my to-do list forever! And your dip looks amazing – love that idea. Gotta love Greek yogurt!
This is one of my favorite appetizers to make. Easy but elegant. My guests love it!