Tasty Holiday Party Appetizer
You know a dish is a hit when guests come back after the party to ask if there’s any left over.
That’s what happened when I made this goat cheese and roasted garlic beehive a few years ago, and I’ve been making it every year since. The recipe comes from Chester Hastings’ book The Cheesemonger’s Kitchen, and it combines all the world’s best flavors in one stunning dish. And the best part? Anyone can make it.
Goat cheese, roasted garlic and honey are a holy triumvirate in the food world ― you’ve got creamy, tangy, salty, sweet, sticky and gooey all together in harmony. Plus, this thing is an absolute showstopper. Just look at it.
Here’s how you make it: Line a quart-size bowl with cheesecloth, and then spoon in layers of goat cheese and roasted garlic paste (more on that below). Chill it in the refrigerator overnight, and then unmold it to reveal a magical beehive-shaped cheese dish that’s the perfect dip for crackers. Drizzle it with honey and you’re done.
So about that roasted garlic paste: You just pop 5 pounds of garlic ― the whole heads, skins and all ― into the oven to roast for about 40 minutes. After they’ve come out of the oven and cooled, you simply squeeze out the soft, caramelized insides and whisk them into a smooth paste. It sounds like a pain in the butt, but it doesn’t require any special skills or equipment. And it’s unbelievably delicious.
