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The starter, Regional

Warm goat cheese toasts with honey and walnuts

Warm goat cheese toasts with honey and walnuts are a starter for 6 that takes 25 minutes of active work. Everything gets prepped in the morning, leaving only the broiler and plating for right before you serve. It's very easy to make, costs about €1.90 per person, and the trick is picking a goat cheese that's aged but not too dry, so it melts without turning runny.

Warm, melty goat cheese toasts, a drizzle of honey, crunchy walnuts, and everyone goes quiet for a second to enjoy it.

Warm goat cheese toasts with honey and walnuts
For
6 people
Work
25 min
Total time
40 min
Prep
Prepared the same day
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€1.90
Calories per person
380 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach

Warm goat cheese toasts play on contrast, crisp bread, warm melty cheese, honey dripping a little everywhere, and walnuts for crunch. It's a simple starter with real character, thanks to that slight tang from a well aged goat cheese that balances the sweetness of the honey. The dressed greens underneath bring the freshness the dish would otherwise miss.

It's the perfect starter for a dinner with friends or a family meal anytime from spring through fall, when you want something that looks impressive without keeping you in the kitchen all evening. It pairs well with a braised or grilled main course afterward, and it also works for more spontaneous get togethers where you're hosting without weeks of planning.

The schedule

What happens when, so you can be with your guests instead of in the kitchen.

  1. The day before Nothing to do
  2. The same day 2 steps
  3. Before the guests arrive 1 step
  4. When it's time to serve 2 steps, 8 min

In the morning, slice the cheese onto the bread and prepare the dressing and chopped walnuts ahead of time. Right before guests arrive, wash and dry the salad without dressing it yet. At serving time, broil the toasts for eight minutes, then arrange them on the dressed greens and finish with the walnuts and a drizzle of honey.

The ingredients

6 people

Bakery

  • Country bread 6 slices

Dairy

  • Goat cheese log 300 g

Pantry

  • Honeyoften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Walnut halves 60 g
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Wine vinegaroften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Green salad 200 g
  • Fresh thyme 6 sprigs

Allergens Gluten, Lactose, Tree nuts

The recipe, moment by moment

The same dayDuring the day, whenever you get a moment.

  1. Cut the goat cheese log into six thick rounds and place each one on a slice of country bread, on a baking sheet.

    Slice the cheese with a cheese wire or a knife run under hot water, for a clean cut.

  2. Roughly chop the walnuts and whisk the oil with the vinegar, salt and pepper for the dressing.

    Toast the walnuts dry in a skillet for two minutes, they'll taste much more fragrant.

Before the guests arriveThe last hour, right before the doorbell rings.

  1. Wash and dry the salad greens, then keep them chilled in a damp kitchen towel.

    Don't dress it until the very last moment, or it will wilt.

When it's time to serveThe final touches, right in front of your guests.

  1. Drizzle each toast with honey, add the thyme, and broil in the oven. 8 min

    Watch closely, the cheese should turn lightly golden at the edges in 6 to 8 minutes.

  2. Arrange the toasts on the dressed salad and scatter with walnuts.

    Finish with one more tiny drizzle of honey over the salad to tie the flavors together.

Our tips to get it right

  • Choose slices of country bread on the thicker side, they hold the melted cheese better and don't go soggy under the honey.
  • If your goat cheese log is very fresh and soft, pop it in the freezer for fifteen minutes before slicing, you'll get a much cleaner cut.
  • Make the dressing in a sealed jar, it mixes better when shaken and keeps well in the fridge until serving time.

The variations

  • Swap the honey for chestnut honey for a stronger flavor that stands up to a well aged goat cheese.
  • For a quicker version, skip the homemade dressing and simply toss the greens with a drizzle of olive oil and a few drops of balsamic vinegar.
  • For a different nut, use chopped and lightly toasted hazelnuts instead of walnuts, for a milder flavor.

What to serve it with

  • A glass of dry, fruity white wine
  • A light vegetable soup nearby in colder months
  • A sparkling apple juice, no alcohol needed

Storage

Toasts prepped in the morning keep in the fridge covered with plastic wrap for up to 4 hours before baking. Once baked, eat them within the hour, they don't reheat well and the salad doesn't freeze.

Questions about this recipe

Can I use a different bread instead of country bread?

Yes, a baguette sliced on an angle or a whole grain bread both work well. Avoid very soft breads, they'll turn soggy under the melted cheese and honey.

How do I keep the cheese from running all over the baking sheet?

Pick a log that isn't too fresh and cut rounds at least a centimeter thick. The cheese will then melt while keeping its shape instead of spreading out.

What's a nice way to plate this for guests?

Arrange the dressed salad in a small nest on each plate, set the warm toast on top, scatter with chopped walnuts, and finish with the honey drizzle at the last minute so it stays visible.

Can I make this starter for more than 6 people?

Yes, just scale up the quantities proportionally and use several baking sheets. Space the toasts out so the broiler browns each round of cheese evenly.

Can warm goat cheese toasts with honey and walnuts be made ahead?

Yes, during the day. The recipe needs 25 min of work in total, split up like this, the same day, 2 steps, before the guests arrive, 1 step, when it's time to serve, 2 steps.

How long does it take to make warm goat cheese toasts with honey and walnuts?

Allow 40 min in total, including resting and cooking time, of which 25 min is actual work. The recipe is rated "very easy".

How many calories are in warm goat cheese toasts with honey and walnuts?

About 380 kcal per person, for a recipe meant for 6 people. The calories are calculated by Kiloach, your kilo coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does warm goat cheese toasts with honey and walnuts cost?

About €1.90 per person, that's €11.40 for 6 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, lactose, tree nuts. Remember to ask your guests about their allergies before putting your menu together.

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