Broiled Goat Cheese with Sesame & Persimmons

A dramatic app that can be made with dried American persimmons or dates.

American persimmons, when dried, mimic the texture and flavor of dried dates. This dramatic goat cheese appetizer takes just a handful of ingredients and less than ten minutes. Make this when you want to impress your guests during the holiday season, or when you need a zesty lunch on an overcast day.

“I made this for lunch today. This recipe is a winner!” -Subscriber Tammy
Hear all about the making of this recipe on The Wild Grocery Podcast

Ingredients

1/2 cup chopped dried American persimmons*
OR 1/2 cup chopped dried dates

4oz goat cheese*
1/2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
1 tbsp honey
pinch flakey salt
1 tsp fresh orange zest
1 tsp sesame oil
1/2 tbsp crushed pistachios (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat your oven’s broiler.

2. Scoop goat cheese into an oven safe crock or dish, making big swishes in the cheese with a spoon. Scatter the chopped persimmons and sesame seeds over the cheese, then drizzle the honey and flakey salt on top.

3. Set the crock, uncovered, under your oven’s broiler, and cook until the honey begins to bubble and peaks of the cheese start to brown. Remove from the oven, and sprinkle with the orange zest and crushed pistachios. Drizzle sesame oil. Serve warm with endives or toasted slices of bread.

*Recipe Notes

• If you’re working with whole dried American persimmons, you may find the seeds inside while chopping. They should slide out of the fruit with ease, and can be ground to make a tea.

• If you have options, choose a goat cheese with a creamy consistency. A dry cheese will still work, you just may need to drizzle a little extra oil or honey after it comes out of the oven to avoid a dry dip.

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