Years ago, I started dining at a cozy little restaurant in the heart of my hometown in Illinois. During my very first visit, I ordered their “Mesculyn Salad with Salmon”, which is comprised of a delicious mix of fresh greens, berries, red onion, sugared pecans, and lightly battered, warmed goat cheese.
Now, if you know me, you know that I’m an absolute sucker for a good salad. Although the mesculyn salad is somewhat of a simple blend for me, I was quite intrigued by the goat cheese preparation. So much so, that I decided to create my own version which I call my “Super Savory Goat Cheese Croquettes”.
What You Need
3 ounces of goat cheese, softened- 1/4 a cup of slivered almonds, unsalted and crushed
- 1/4 a cup of sunflower seeds, unsalted
- 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds
- One egg
- Sea salt, to taste
- Ground pepper, to taste
- Extra-virgin olive oil
How To Prepare
In a bowl, beat the egg and set it aside. Next, evenly divide the goat cheese into three pieces, roll each piece into a round ball, and then dip each cheese ball into the beaten egg. In a separate bowl, combine the almonds, sunflower seeds and flaxseeds and season the mixture with sea salt and pepper.
This mixture will serve as a batter.
One at a time, coat each cheese ball with the seasoned batter and then flatten them a bit to make patty shapes.
Coat a skillet with the olive oil and set the heat to medium. Pan-fry the croquettes, flipping them over to cook on both sides, until they are golden bro
wn. Drain the croquettes on absorbent paper and then you’re done!
While goat cheese is relatively high in sodium and saturated fat (as all types of cheese), it’s actually a valuable source of countless beneficial nutrients including calcium, the mood-boosting amino acid tryptophan, and the potent antioxidant selenium.
Compared to other types of cheese, goat cheese is also relatively low in cholesterol.
My super savory goat cheese croquettes are a great way to add unique flavor and texture to any salad. The inclusion of healthy fats like almonds, sunflower seeds, and flaxseeds in these croquettes greatly boosts their overall nutritional value.
A single croquette houses about 300 calories (primarily due to healthy fats) and a hearty 14 grams of protein. Enjoy!
