Sorry for the pun but sure it’s all good fun. I remember a time when goats milk was only mentioned as a cure for asthma or eczema.
Of course as with many other funky products it has become part of our stable diet, if your adventurous you can even make ice cream out of goats milk but that’s a different article for sure .
Most of us will never have or never will taste goats milk but for many of us have eaten goats cheese.
Chef Martin Anderson
by Martin Anderson
I love goat’s cheese. It’s strong in flavour, creamy in texture, it can be served hot or cold . It may be grilled , roasted , used in savoury cheese cakes , melted and used as a dip , coated in breadcrumbs and shallow fried or simply as part of a cheese board or enjoyed with a glass of wine.
One of the dishes we serve is a baked potato smothered in melted goats cheese topped with crispy bacon .
We buy a rindless Irish goats cheese which is really creamy , we add a mix of herbs, garlic and a little cream and blend it together , simply spoon some on a hot baked potato and allow it to melt, so tasty.
There are several Irish goat cheese producers and there is a large goat farm not far from my home supplying a local dairy where the cheese & milk is processed and sold all over Ireland and beyond.
The French have a fantastic starter, Crottin de Chavignol. This is a goat’s cheese made from alpine goats milk, simply roasted in its rind and served with a mixed leaf salad & vinegarette again so tasty!
You too can try this at home with goats cheese slices baked or grilled on parchment paper, simple .
There are many health benefits to eating goats cheese or drinking goats milks .
Many folk who are allergic to cow milk products or who suffer from lactose intolerance may be able to drink goats milk and eat goats cheese.
Goats milk Yogurt cultures convert lactose into lactic acid, making yogurt easier to digest than milk. Lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidus can help to restore normal intestinal flora after antibiotic therapy.
Goats cheese is Low in Calories
A 1-oz. serving of a typical brand of goat cheese contains 70 calories, 45 of which are from fat. A 1-oz. serving of a typical brand of cheddar cheese, however, contains 110 calories and 80 from fat. If you substitute a serving of goat cheese for cheddar each day for a week, you will cut nearly 300 calories from your diet.
Substituting goat cheese for cheddar can help you limit your intake of fat, saturated fat and cholesterol. Goat cheese contains just 5 g of fat per 1-oz. serving, while cheddar cheese contains 9 g. Similarly, goat cheese contains half the saturated fat with 3 g per serving, compared to the 6 g of cheddar cheese. Cheddar cheese contains 25 mg of cholesterol per serving, while goat cheese contains none.
That’s the science bit over and as you can see goats cheese has its health benefits too but o just love it for the flavour .
This weeks recipe is for a very simple goats cheese tart , usually these tarts contain eggs and are baked like a quiche but this recipe is a lot easier to follow and make .
Goats cheese, red onion and chilli tartlet.
You will need.
For the filling.
Goats cheese of your choice , I use slices cut from a goats cheese log with the rind removed .
1 chilli de-seeded and chopped.
2 medium red onions peeled and finely sliced.
Balsamic vinegar.
Brown sugar.
For the pastry
400g of plain flour
220g of margarine.
Cold water.
Salt.
Method.
Place the flour into a large bowl and rub in the margarine add a pinch of salt.
Add the water a little at a time until a dough forms.
Knead until smooth.
Cover with cling film and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
For the filling.
Slice the onions and cook in a little oil until softened, add the chopped chilli, dash of vinegar and brown sugar to taste.
Cook until the liquid is absorbed and cool.
Pre-heat your oven to 170c.
Roll your pastry to ½ inch thickness and line your tartlet tin. Pricking the base of the pastry. (This stops the pastry from rising).
Bake until the pastry begins to colour and turn down and cook until set, remove from the oven and allow to cool.
To assemble
Fill the tart with the cooled onions and top with slices of goats cheese, sprinkle with paprika and bake again hot and the cheese is melted, serve with a crisp salad and a good red wine.
