There are many ways to make your friends and family feel special during the holidays. But serving up these Fried Goat Cheese Balls with Honey has got to be the best way! Plus, these Fried Goat Cheese Balls with Honey are breaded in gluten-free breadcrumbs so everyone can enjoy this appetizer this holiday season!
This is my second recipe in my #AppyHolidays series. Follow along this month for delicious party-worthy appetizers that you can serve to your friends and family this season! A new #AppyHolidays recipe is posted every Tuesday of the month!
Fried Cheese = Love
Many of you have probably seen fried goat cheese before that is served on top of a fresh green salad. This is one of my favourite salad recipes and I really enjoy eating this in the spring. When served over salad, the goat cheese is typically in disc form, but in this recipe, I rolled the goat cheese into little balls before breading and frying them. On their own, these goat cheese balls are salty and savoury but a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of dried rosemary really make these a gourmet appetizer!
Check out those crisp and golden breadcrumbs!Made with Local Ingredients
This recipe is made with local and/or Canadian ingredients- from the cheese, to the breadcrumbs, to the honey! For me, this is my favourite way to cook since I know the ingredients are fresh and I know that my money is supporting local businesses.
Portofino Bakery
The Gluten-Free White Bread from Portofino Bakery was the ingredient that inspired these Fried Goat Cheese Balls with Honey in the first place. I have a few friends that are gluten-free and I wanted to serve an appetizer that they could enjoy. Since there is no flour (i.e. gluten) in gluten-free bread, it is much more crumbly than typical bread, making this perfect to make breadcrumbs. This task may sound a bit excessive but they are super easy to make! Just a few pulses in a food processor and a quick toasting in the oven and you have homemade breadcrumbs! They are light, crisp and perfect for breading the local goat cheese that I used.
Alexis de Portneuf
While I haven’t been out and about exploring the wonderful cheese producers of Vancouver Island (yet), I have my staple goat cheese that I turn to every time. Alexis de Portneuf, a Quebecois company, makes a creamy and tart goat cheese called Capriny that is perfect for this recipe. I love this cheese because it is so creamy and tart—a perfect complement to the sweet honey! This cheese comes in a “log” form but you can easily break off small chunks and roll them into little goat cheese balls. I recommend that you do this when the cheese is cold from the fridge so that it is easier to roll.
Babe’s Honey Farm
My final local ingredient is this sweet Maple Blossom Honey from Babe’s Honey Farm. If you a loyal follower, you will know how much I love Babe’s. I am obsessed with their Jun and I love their honey so much that I even included it in my Love Local: Holiday Gift Guide 2018. I picked up this Maple Blossom Honey in the fall and have been saving it for a special recipe. Once I had the idea for these Fried Goat Cheese Balls, honey just seemed like the perfect addition! A light drizzle of this honey is all that you need to turn these Fried Goat Cheese Balls into a gourmet appetizer!
Fried goat cheese feat. Maple Blossom Honey from Babe’s Honey FarmI hope that you give this delicious, gluten-free recipe a try this holiday season! I’m sure that all of your friends and family members will really enjoy this special treat. For the full recipe for these Fried Goat Cheese Balls with Honey, click here!
Thank you to Portofino Bakery for sending me this, and many other breads and treats this holiday season! I have one more #AppyHolidays recipe to share with you using their French Baguette. Stay tuned to see what it is! If you want to check out their breads and bakery products, check out their website!
Creamy goat cheese from Alexis de PortneufFor the full recipe for my Fried Goat Cheese with Honey, click here!
