Fried Goat Cheese Medallions

Fried Goat Cheese Medallions

Takes , serves 4.

Ingredients

  • 1 (11oz) log of plain goat cheese
  • 20 Wellington Crackers, traditional
  • 1 Tbsp. dried basil
  • 1 Tsp. Kosher salt
  • 1/2 Tsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 eggs, beaten with 1 Tbsp. water
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • Refined coconut oil, for frying
  • Wellington crackers, for serving
  • Tomato olive salsa (in recipe)
  • 1 lb. fresh tomatoes, blanched, peeled and diced (about 1.5 cups)
  • 15 kalamata olives, pitted and chopped (about 1/3 cup)
  • 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 3 Tbsp. olive oil
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup basil, julienned

Instructions

Goat Cheese Medallions
  1. Chill the goat cheese in the freezer for 10 minutes to firm up.
  2. Using a sharp knife (or a piece of plain dental floss), slice the log of goat cheese into 12 (1/2 inch) pieces. If using a knife, clean it off with hot water after each cut to keep the goat cheese rounds intact. Carefully arrange the rounds on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and chill in the freezer for another 10 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, using your hands, crumble the crackers into small pieces over the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade.
  4. Blend crackers until fine crumbs form, about 20 seconds (the crumbs don’t have to be perfectly uniform, some larger chunks are fine and will add great texture).
  5. Add salt, pepper and dried basil, pulse to mix, and transfer crumbs to a wide bowl.
  6. When the goat cheese rounds are cold and very firm, work one at a time to dip in the flour, then the beaten eggs, then the cracker crumbs. Make sure the cheese is completely coated then repeat with remaining rounds. Return the baking sheet to the freezer for at least 10 more minutes.
  7. Meanwhile, fill a large, heavy-bottomed pot with about 1 inch of coconut oil (warmed in the microwave, if needed, to liquefy). Attach a thermometer to the pot and heat oil over medium-high heat to 375°F.
  8. Fry the slices, a few at a time, for about a minute or until the crumbs turn golden brown. Flip the rounds and fry another minute, until golden all over.
  9. Drain the rounds on a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle with salt. Wait for the oil to return to 375°F and continue the process until all goat cheese rounds have been fried.
  10. Serve immediately with Wellington crackers and tomato olive salsa.
Tomato Olive Salsa
  1. In a small bowl, combine tomatoes, olives, lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil and salt and pepper. Taste and adjust salt or lemon juice if needed.
  2. Just before serving, stir in basil. Serve spooned over fried goat cheese medallions and Wellington crackers.