This appetizer is divine. The sweetness of the peach salsa marries wonderfully with the tanginess and creaminess of the goat cheese. It is excellent served with whole wheat pita chips or blue corn tortilla chips. Not only does it look impressive when served bubbly out of the oven, but the taste is even more impressive for such a simple appetizer.
Toast the nuts up to 2 days in advance and make the cheese disk up to 1 day in advance. If you make the disk in advance, all that’s left to do is pour the salsa over the top and pop it in the oven when your guests arrive. By the time everyone has a drink it will be ready to serve.
Warm Peach Salsa & Goat Cheese Dip
½ C. pine nuts, toasted
8oz goat cheese, softened
8oz low-fat cream cheese or Neufchtel, softened
2 C. Organic peach salsa
Chopped cilantro for garnish (optional)
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread nuts on a dry baking sheet and toast in the oven until very slightly golden brown and fragrant (about 5 minutes). Remove from oven and cool in the bottom of a mixing bowl. This can be done up to 2 days in advance.
2. Once the nuts have cooled, add the softened cheeses to the bowl and fold the mixture together until well combined. Lay a large piece of plastic wrap on the counter and turn the cheese mixture out into the center of the plastic wrap. Shape into a circular disk, fold the plastic wrap around the cheese and put in the refrigerator to harden. This can be done up to 1 day in advance.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the cheese disk into the bottom of a pie plate (preferably deep dish) and pour the peach salsa over the top of the cheese. Bake until bubbly, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro, if you are using it. Serve immediately with cumin dusted pita chips or tortilla chips.
Serves 12 as an appetizer
· Watch the pine nuts closely while you toast them – they can burn very easily.
· You can modify this recipe by substituting another type of nut, such as chopped walnuts, for the pine nuts. Other nuts will take slightly longer to toast than the pine nuts.
· Although my favorite salsa for this recipe is peach (because of the sweetness) you can substitute your favorite type of salsa instead.
