WARM LEEK-SHIITAKE GOAT CHEESE SPREAD
A new twist of the classic American cheese ball, this festive spread will make the holidays jingle!
Recipe by: Gabrielle
SERVES: 6
Wine Pairing: 2018 Pietro Family Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, Napa Valley
PREP TIME: 10 minutes COOK TIME: 10 minutes TOTAL TIME: 20 minutes
INGREDIENTS
- ¼ cup canola oil
- ⅔ cup leeks (white part), finely diced
- 6 oz. shiitake mushrooms, de-stemmed, cleaned, cut into ¼” slices, about 3 cups
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp. GC Napa Valley Natural Olive Spice Blend
- ¼ tsp. GC Napa Valley Natural Culinary Lavender Tellicherry Pepper
- 1 tsp. GC Napa Valley Natural Marjoram Finishing Sea Salt
- ⅓ cup 2018 Pietro Family Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, Napa Valley
- 1 cup (8 oz.) goat cheese, room temperature
- ½ cup (4 oz.) cream cheese or mascarpone, room temperature
- ¼ cup milk + more if needed
- 1 Tbsp. GC Napa Valley Natural Meyer Lemon Olive Oil
- ½ cup French’s Crispy Fried Onions
- Serving accompaniments: See Recipes – Herb Sea Salt Tortilla Crisps, Lemon Olive Oil Crostini, Grilled Crostini with Rosemary Sea Salt, Other – pumpernickel bread, buttery crackers, Belgian endive leaves, cauliflower florets, spears of celery, cucumber, and red bell pepper
TO PREPARE
- Heat canola oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add leeks, cook 2 minutes. Add shiitakes, cook 3-4 minutes or until tender. Add garlic, Olive Spice, Lavender Tellicherry Pepper, Marjoram Finishing Sea Salt and cook 1 minute to ‘bloom’ the spices and herbs. Off heat add Pietro Family Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Reserve. Return to heat and reduce wine, 2-3 minutes. FOODIE KITCHEN TECHNIQUE: ‘Blooming’ is the process of briefly heating spices/herbs to extract more flavor, preferably done in oil because the flavor compounds in many spices/herbs are fat soluble.
- Add both cheeses to a glass mixing bowl. Microwave at 10 second intervals to soften. Stir in ¼ cup milk and leek-shiitake mixture. Microwave again at 10 second intervals to heat through. TIP: Make spread ahead (so flavors can meld), refrigerate, microwave at intervals, or reheat in a 300-degree oven for 10-15 minutes. If the spread is too thick add 1 Tbsp. or more milk.
TO SERVE
Transfer cheese spread to a shallow dish. Drizzle with 1 Tbsp. Meyer Lemon Olive Oil. Top with crispy fried onions. Place dish on our Barrel Wood Stave Platter or Barrel Head Tray surrounded with accompaniments, such as our favorites, Herb Sea Salt Tortilla Crisps , Lemon Olive Oil Crostini, and Grilled Crostini with Rosemary Sea Salt .
SHOPPING LIST
- 1 bottle canola oil
- 1 large leek
- 6 oz. shiitake mushrooms
- 1 garlic bulb
- 1 bottle 2018 Pietro Family Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, Napa Valley
- 8 oz. goat cheese
- 4 oz. cream cheese or mascarpone
- 1 pint milk
- 1 container 2.8 oz. French’s Crispy Fried Onions
- Serving accompaniments: See Recipes – Herb Sea Salt Tortilla Crisps, Lemon Olive Oil Crostini, Grilled Crostini with Rosemary Sea Salt, Other – pumpernickel bread, buttery crackers, Belgian endive leaves, cauliflower florets, spears of celery, cucumber, and red bell pepper