Goat cheese toast

This super easy goat cheese toast is a delicious combination of sweet and savory, soft and crunchy. It makes a great snack, appetizer or enjoy a couple with some sides for lunch.

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This is one of those recipes that almost doesn't feel like a recipe and so I debated sharing it. But then, it's also really tasty and so it felt a shame to keep it all to myself. My discerning 9 year old agreed, so that decided it.

This came about thanks to me receiving some tasty Spanish cheeses from a local deli as a Christmas gift (if in doubt: buy foodies edible gifts). I debated making an updated Spanish cheese board, but I already love the mix in there and it has plenty suggestions to vary, too. So instead, I decided to try something different.

Cheese + fruit: a favorite combination

Combining slightly salty, nutty cheeses with fruit or other sweet things is of course something you find in many a cheese board in many places. Whether it's figs, strawberries, apples or honey, that touch of sweet pairs so well with cheese.

Here, since I was going to be using a Spanish cheese, I decided to look to Spain as my inspiration. So I started with a favorite Spanish combination of cheese and quince jelly, aka membrillo. I have shared about this a bit before, both in my cheese board and easy summer cold tapas recipes as it's a classic combination in Spain.

What is membrillo?

Membrillo, short for "dulce de membrillo" is a jelly or paste made from quince cooked down with sugar. Quince is a member of the apple family, but it's a fruit that you can't really eat raw. However when you cook it, it becomes wonderfully aromatic and it's high pectin content makes it perfect for jelly-like goodness.

Quince paste has apparently been made since Roman times, or before, being found in Roman records from the 5th century. It's incredibly popular in Spain, but also found in other Mediterranean countries as well as Mexico and other Latin American countries, being taken there during colonization.

While in Spain it's most typical served in slices with Manchego cheese, in Latin America you'll find quince or guava jelly used in pastries and as more of an ingredient instead. It's a delicious, sticky treat and well worth hunting down. It keeps really well, too, so you can enjoy it over a number of weeks.

Changing up the cheese

Manchego and membrillo is the classic pairing in Spanish tapas, though here I decided to change things up a bit. Here I have used Cana de Cabra which is a rinded soft goat cheese from Spain.

Now granted, this was partly based on having some in my gift, but I also chose it for two other important reasons. First, it has a great flavor, but most importantly, it melts when grilled, but with the rind holding in the oozing cheese a bit.

In other words, you get a special sweet and savory cheese on toast with only three ingredients. Or you could call it a type of Spanish pintxo (and it would be great enjoyed with a few more).

Ways to vary this cheese on toast

While I love the combination of rinded goat cheese and membrillo, I realize not everyone will mange to find one or the other. If you can't find Cana de Cabra, the French cheese Bucheron is very similar.

If you can't find either, then another cheese that melts with a good flavor would also work. Things like Taleggio would be good, or even Fontina, Brie or Gruyere, though the flavors are a little different.

Instead of membrillo quince paste, fig jam would work well, or failing that other thicker slightly sweet-tart fruity spreads like apple butter or apricot preserves. Guava jelly would be another good substitute.

You could also switch out the membrillo for slices of pear to have a similar sweet and savory combination, or drizzle some honey over the top of the cheese after grilling.

If you want to add to the basic toast idea a little, why not add some Serrano ham or slices of fig, pear or apple to give even more variety of flavor and texture. You can also leave just as it is and serve with other small tapas dishes like garlic mushrooms, blistered Padron peppers or salads to make more of a meal.

This goat cheese toast is a wonderfully simple and tasty combination that you can add to or enjoy just as it is. The warm, melty cheese, sweet quince paste and crisp paste are such a great combination. Perfect as a snack in itself, or with sides for lunch - speedy deliciousness.

Try these other easy savory snacks:

• Korean zucchini fritters (hobak jeon - slices of zucchini in a light, crisp batter)
• Sesame shrimp toast (tasty shrimp and pork-topped crisp toasts)
• Papdi chaat (a delicious Indian snack combining crackers, chutney, yogurt and more)
• Plus get more snack recipes in the archives.

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