One of my favorite ways of relaxed entertaining is serving cheese platter, or baked cheeses, with stewed fruits, nuts and more (check THIS recipe for an example).
However, as the days get warmer, this option becomes a bit too heavy for the weather. So, my solution is to switch to lighter cheeses, and serve them with fresh summer fruits.In the dish I have here, I combined the two into one: a light goat cheese mouse that has grapes in it. The result is a light and colorful dish, bursting with flavors and textures. The perfect dish for a hot summer brunch. Try it and enjoy.
Notes:
* The mixture can also be piped on crackers or endive boats.
* The mousse will keep, wrapped in the fridge, for up to a week.
Makes: 2 mini loaf pans (5.3”x2.7” (13.5 x 7cm))
Prep time: 15 minutes
Chilling time: at least 2 hours
Ingredients:
1 Tbs gelatin powder
¼ cup cold milk
¼ cup hot water
4 oz (113 grams) plain fresh goat cheese, soft
4 oz (113 grams) garlic-herbs fresh goat cheese, soft
8 oz (227 grams) cream cheese, soft
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp honey (preferably orange blossom)
1 tsp salt
20-22 seedless red and green grapes
For serving:
2 tsp honey (preferably orange blossom)
Freshly ground four peppers mix
1/3 cup roughly chopped lightly toasted pistachios
1. Place the gelatin powder in a small bowl and add the cold milk. Mix and let sit for 1-2 minutes. Add ¼ cup hot water and mix well, until the gelatin dissolves.
2. Place the two types of goat cheese, cream cheese, olive oil, honey and salt in a large bowl. Add the gelatin mixture and whip with a hand mixer to a smooth and fluffy mixture. Taste and adjust seasoning, if needed.
3. Line two mini loaf pans (5.3”x2.7” (13.5×7 cm)) with plastic wrap. Add about a quarter of the goat cheese mixture into each pan and place the grapes on top. Add the rest of the mixture and lightly tap the pans on the counter, to get rid of air bubbles. Fold the plastic wrap over and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or until the mousse sets.
4. To serve, uncover the plastic wrap from the top. Place the pan, upside down, on a serving plate. Carefully remove the pan and plastic wrap. Pour the honey on top and sprinkle with ground four peppers mix and chopped pistachios. Slice with serrated knife.
This sounds so heavenly and it looks so pretty. I love it.
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Thank you Myra, I’m glad you liked the recipe. I make this mousse often in the summer. It’s always a hit! 🙂
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Looks tasty
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Thank you! 🙂
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This sounds wonderful – and so pretty, too.
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Thank you Rosemarie, I’m glad you liked the recipe. It’s one of my favorite appetizers for summer. 🙂
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Great idea and look delicious as well 🙂 thank you for sharing !
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Thank you Ruta, I’m glad you liked the recipe. It’s so easy to make, yet an impressive dish. It’s my pleasure to share. 🙂
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That looks so very inviting! I remember a recipe from the 60’s that was sort of similar, but had only cream cheese in it. Well, that wasn’t the only ingredient, but the only cheese. There was orange and lime Jell-O, pineapple, tiny marshmallows,and whipped cream involved. It was a great buffet dish for the time. But times have changed – and yours sounds ever so much more appealing to me now.
I’m on a pistachios kick these days, and last night I put them into cornbread, along with blueberry juice infused dried cranberries. Haven’t tried toasting them, but I’ll bet that would massively improve their already delightful flavor.
Virtual hugs,
Judie
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Thank you Judie, I’m glad you liked the recipe. I have to say that the one from the 60’s sounds quite off-putting. I will never understand the combination of Jell-o and marshmallows!
Pistachios are great raw, but lightly roasting them definitely improves the flavor.
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This sounds wonderful and is lovely.
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Thank you, I’m glad you liked the dish. It’s one of my favorites. 🙂
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Looks beautiful and I LOVE goat’s cheese!
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Thank you Kelly, I’m glad you liked the recipe. I too love goat cheeses! 🙂
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Interesting way to use grapes and looks like a recipe I should be making. I just enjoyed a bag of green grapes… Love all the cheeses and the fact I can make it ahead of time (up to a week).
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Thank you Judi, I’m glad you liked the recipe. It is indeed perfect for easy entertaining and one of my all times favorites. Hope you’ll enjoy it too. 🙂
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That looks spectacular, Ronit.
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Thank you Mary, so nice to hear. 🙂
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This sounds wonderful for summer get-togethers. The goat cheese mousse makes a beautiful presentation.
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Thank you Sheryl, I’m glad you liked the dish. It is indeed perfect for summer get-together. Always a hit! 🙂
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Wow ! This looks super delicious.
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Thank you Megala, I’m glad you liked the dish. It was indeed very delicious. 🙂
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So pretty! I would like to fast this with chilled Riesling!
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Thank you! Riesling would pair beautifully with this this dish. 🙂
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Great idea, looks so yum!
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Thank you NIsha, I’m glad you liked the dish. It’s one of my favorites. 🙂
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Adding the green and red grapes inside the mousse is so clever! Lovely presentation! 💖
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Thank you, I’m glad you liked the mousse and presentation. It is one of my favorite dishes for summer entertaining. 🙂
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Wow! Splendid! What a perfect way to entertain. I can visualize this in the back patio, with a glass of vino 🙂
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Thank you Loretta, I’m glad you liked the recipe. This dish is indeed so perfect for summer entertaining, and is definitely better with a glass of wine. 🙂
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Love this post, Ronit. I’m completely mad for cheese so this is perfect!
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Thank you Tracey, I’m glad you liked the recipe. It is indeed the perfect dish for cheese fans! 🙂
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This looks like a lot of fun! 🙂
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Thank you Franck. It is indeed! 🙂
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What a great idea! I love goat cheese!! 🙂
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Thank you Peter, I’m glad you liked the recipe. It’s definitely the dish for anyone who loves goat cheeses. 🙂
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This is delicious!!! Great recipe!! Thank you for sharing!
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Thank you Prachi, I”m glad you liked the recipe. It’s my pleasure to share. 🙂
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Looks so good and grapes are a great combination with goats cheese 😋
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Thank you Vanessa, I’m glad you liked the recipe. This combination is so tasty. Highly recommended! 🙂
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This is so unique! My son use to have a cow milk allergy at which time we developed quite the liking for goat cheese!
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Thank you Annika, I’m glad you liked the recipe. It is perfect for goat cheese fans, which I’m definitely one of!. 🙂
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Wow! That one is news to me!
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Thank you Kendall, I’m glad to know! 🙂
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Welcome!
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What a pretty dish! I love the cross section showing the two colour grapes. So clever!
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Thank you Marcellina, I’m glad you liked the dish. The grapes indeed create a unique presentation, while adding flavor and texture as well. Highly recommended! 🙂
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OMG Ronit this is exquisite! I mean, I’d love it without the grapes, but wow. They just put this humble spread over the top!!! You’re so creative.
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Thank you Mimi, I’m glad you liked the recipe. The addition of grapes indeed elevated the simple mousse to a new level. It’s one of my favorites for easy summer entertaining. 🙂
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Bookmarking this recipe Ronit! Love all the flavors going in it and it is perfect for entertaining!
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Thank you Sandhya, I’m glad you liked the recipe. It is indeed the perfect dish for entertaining. I hope you’ll enjoy it. 🙂
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Cheese and Grapes (or Fruit) – great flavor combination!
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It is indeed. 🙂
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What a unique and tasty sounding recipe!!
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Thank you LaRena, I’m glad you liked the recipe. 🙂
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The red and green grapes make this perfect for Christmas entertaining.
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Definitely! Glad you liked the recipe. Hope you’ll enjoy it! 🙂
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