I had big plans for today’s post, as big as a three course meal ending in a dazzling dessert with berries like the mascarpone roulade. By the time I finished with the appetizer, this strawberry goat cheese tartine, I had no more energy for another round of cooking and photographing. It takes time you guys, and planning and je ne sai quoi, don’t you agree? I need to feel it before it can translate into something blog worthy.
It’s make-up week at the FFWD headquarters, and I’m taking advantage of it. Not in a grand style, like the full meal I had in mind, but with a fast, easy and super tasty appetizer that is not only different but packs a lot of flavor too. All good adjectives when it comes to food.
There’s not much to this appetizer, except to say that the first goat cheese I used was of the pungent kind, with a bitter aftertaste. I do like it a lot, especially in a quiche I make with caramelized onions, but for this tartine, it was too much. So round number two included a milder cheese and less of it. I couldn’t find chevre, which is the ultimate soft goat cheese in my opinion, so I used chevrotin. I think feta would’ve been good too. Or even homemade ricotta.
What about the balsamic vinegar? It adds a good touch, and though it´s not mandatory as Dorie points out, I suggest you not miss it. The reduction of balsamic vinegar to syrup is a revelation, the sweet acrid waft as it cooks stayed in my nose for hours, similar to the way my kitchen smell when I make chutney. I don’t know how I come back after adding balsamic syrup to the strawberry goat cheese tartine and to a salad. Maybe I don’t. It’s just so darn amazing.
Strawberry goat cheeseTartine
Description
This is more an ingredient list than a recipe.
Ingredients
- Baguette slices (toasted or fresh)
- Fresh strawberries (hulled and sliced)
- Soft goat cheese
- Balsamic vinegar syrup
Instructions
- Put the amount of balsamic vinegar you want, I used about 1 cup, in a small saucepan and let reduce over low heat. When it's syrupy remove and keep in a glass jar. I transferred it back to it's original bottle.
- Put some goat cheese on each baguette slice, add some fresh strawberry slices on top and drizzle with balsamic syrup.
- Eat immediately
You're adorable Paula. I love your equation above:
Tartine (french) = bruschetta (italian) = tostas (spanish) = stuff on toast (for me!) jaja!
Your stuff on toast looks so good. I think it would be great with a grind of black pepper too.
I am in love with strawberries and syrupy aged balsamic. Such a beautiful winning combination... I've even eaten them over good vanilla ice cream with a touch of black pepper! This tartine sounds gorgeous Paula. Beautiful photos, beautiful flavours. Lovely xx