Culinary Confessional

Tonight’s Culinary Adventure: Goat Cheese al Forno  
     
(This is a take on my favorite tapas, EVER.  If you don’t know what a tapas is, check out  this post.)

Note: You can prepare the tomato base ahead of time, add it to a dish with a slice of goat cheese in the middle and grill it in your wood oven until the cheese is melted/toasted. Serve on toast points.

    
Ingredients:

    
Sauce: (Makes approx. two to three tapas)
6 peeled tomatoes (roma works nicely in this recipe), diced
8 oz goat cheese
1/2 onion, chopped fine
1/2 white wine 
2 garlic cloves, chopped fine
2 tsp herbs de provence
1/4 cup fresh basil plus 1/4 reserved for garnish
Salt and pepper to taste 
1 baguette
3/4 cup compound garlic butter 

Directions:

Combine all ingredients (except for the butter, baguette, and goat cheese) in a deep saute pan.  Saute to reduce liquid until the liquid reduces, approx. 10 minutes.

   

Prepare toast points by slicing a baguette and toasting the slices. Butter with garlic butter (or garlic oli). 

    

Place a hot layer (about a 1/2” thick) of the tomato basil mixture in a small low sided terra cota dish (which will help hold the heat) and place a 1/2” slice of goat cheese in the middle.  Place under a grill, broiler, or in a wood oven under a nice flame until the goat cheese is golden brown and bubbly.  Sprinkle with some fresh sliced basil.

    
Serve with the toast points and enjoy!

     
Approximate Nutritional Values: http://www.food.com/recipe/tomatoes-broiled-with-goat-cheese-and-basil-20816