Marinated Cheese With Herbs And Olive Oil Recipes

Steps:

• Cut into 1/2-inch rounds, slices, or wedges: 6 ounces goat or feta cheese.
• Place in a nonreactive container and add: 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, 3 to 4 thyme sprigs, 2 to 3 bay leaves.
• Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 1 day or up to 1 week.
• Variations
• Use different herbs such as rosemary, marjoram, oregano, savory, or hyssop.
• Add a couple of dried hot peppers for a bit of heat.
• Add some whole spices such as black peppercorns, fennel, anise, cumin, or coriander.
• Add 1/4 cup rinsed and drained niçoise olives with the herbs.
• Gently cook 2 or 3 peeled, halved garlic cloves in half of the olive oil until tender but not brown. Let the oil cool and pour over the cheese with the cooked garlic and the remaining oil.
• Remove the cheese from the oil, pat dry breadcrumbs all over the surface, and toast in a hot oven until brown and crisp, about 5 to 10 minutes. Serve with a garlicky salad.

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, stir together the olive oil, parsley, preserved lemon, chile, oregano and peppercorns.
• Cut the feta into 1/2-inch cubes and add them to the olive oil mixture. Gently fold together until feta is evenly coated. Transfer to a jar or lidded container and drizzle with more olive oil, if needed to immerse the feta. Refrigerate for at least 24 hours.
• Remove from refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving to allow solidified olive oil to return to liquid form. Serve with crackers or crostini, or spoon on top of seared fish, grilled or roasted vegetables, pasta or salad.