Valley View’s Warm Goat Cheese Gathering Pan
A hearty, shareable appetizer loaded with warm goat cheese, savory Mediterranean-inspired toppings and plenty of good things for scooping.
When friends and family gather, Valley View Farm’s Liz Mulholland likes an appetizer that can go straight to the middle of the table and let everyone dig in.
Her warm goat cheese gathering pan starts, naturally, with Valley View Farm goat cheese, then surrounds it with an assortment of savory favorites — capers, roasted garlic, tapenade, roasted peppers, cured meats, sautéed mushrooms and whatever else sounds good. A drizzle of olive oil and a little time in the oven bring everything together.
There’s no need to be overly precise with this one. In fact, that’s part of its charm. Liz has made plenty of versions over the years, depending on what she has on hand and what sounds good that day.
Ingredients
- 8 to 12 ounces Valley View Farm goat cheese
- 1/4 cup capers, drained
- 1/4 cup roasted garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup olive tapenade
- 1/2 cup roasted hot or sweet peppers, chopped
- 3 to 4 ounces salami, sliced or chopped
- 3 to 4 ounces prosciutto, torn into bite-size pieces
- 1/2 cup sautéed mushrooms
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- Crackers, sliced crusty bread or pita, for serving
Directions
Heat oven to 375°F.
Place the goat cheese in the center of a cast-iron skillet or other oven-safe baking dish. Arrange the capers, roasted garlic, tapenade, peppers, salami, prosciutto and mushrooms around the cheese in small piles. Drizzle everything generously with olive oil.
Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the goat cheese is warm and soft and the other ingredients are heated through.
Set the pan in the middle of the table, surround it with crackers, bread or pita and, as Liz says, dig in.
Make It Your Own:
Think of Liz’s ingredient list as inspiration rather than a set of rules. Add marinated artichokes, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, caramelized onions or whatever savory additions you love. The goal is a generous assortment of flavors surrounding plenty of warm goat cheese.
Think of Liz’s ingredient list as inspiration rather than a set of rules. Add marinated artichokes, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, caramelized onions or whatever savory additions you love. The goal is a generous assortment of flavors surrounding plenty of warm goat cheese.
From the Farm:
Many of the ingredients for Liz’s version can be found right at Valley View Farm in Topsfield. And Liz is considering making holiday entertaining even easier this year by offering pre-assembled versions in ready-to-bake pans at the farm store — just pop one in the oven and serve.
Many of the ingredients for Liz’s version can be found right at Valley View Farm in Topsfield. And Liz is considering making holiday entertaining even easier this year by offering pre-assembled versions in ready-to-bake pans at the farm store — just pop one in the oven and serve.