Cheese board lovers, brace yourselves: Fried goat cheese bites are about to steal the spotlight. Drenched in crispy, herby breadcrumbs and drizzled with honey, these creamy nuggets will win over party guests in no time.
To ensure those perfect round bites, pop the goat cheese in the freezer for 30 minutes before slicing. But don’t worry if they’re not perfectly shaped—goat cheese’s soft, sticky texture makes it easy to reshape and mend any broken pieces. Besides, once they’re fried and glazed with honey, nobody will notice their shape!
Wondering how we’re frying these bites?
We’re pan-frying these goat cheese bites, which means they sizzle in a pan on the stove with just enough oil to cover half of them. Pan-frying ensures they get crispy all around, just like deep-frying, without risking them falling apart.
What about those pale patches in the center?
Don’t fret! If you spot pale spots after flipping, grab a metal spoon and drizzle a bit of hot oil from the pan over them. That should crisp up and color any pale areas.
Fried Goat Cheese Bites
Ingredients
- 1 8-oz. log of goat cheese
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- Kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
Instructions
- Step 1: Freeze the goat cheese for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, spread flour in a shallow dish. In another dish, beat the egg. In a third dish, mix breadcrumbs, dried thyme, and pepper. Crush half of the breadcrumbs to finer crumbs.
- Step 2: Slice the goat cheese into 12 rounds. Coat each round in flour, then dip in egg, and roll in breadcrumbs. Press firmly to stick. Place on a baking sheet and chill while heating the oil.
- Step 3: Line a plate with paper towels. Heat oil in a skillet until it reaches 350°F.
- Step 4: Fry the cheese rounds until golden brown on both sides. Transfer to the paper towel-lined plate and season with salt.
- Step 5: Arrange the bites on a platter, drizzle with honey, and sprinkle with fresh thyme.