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fried goat cheese balls on a serving platter with hot honey sauce

Fried Goat Cheese

5 from 2 votes
These crispy fried goat cheese balls are a real savory treat full of flavor and texture. They’re the perfect party appetizer, addition to a charcuterie board, or topping for a simple salad recipe. View the full blog post above for step-by-step image instructions.
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Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Molly

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 10-ounce log cold fresh goat cheese (Note 1)
  • 1/3 cup flour gluten-free if needed (Note 2)
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs gluten-free if needed
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • avocado oil or olive oil for frying
  • Honey, chili flakes, or marinara sauce for serving

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Lay the goat cheese ono a clean cutting board and cut it into 1/2-inch slices. Lay each circular piece flat on the cutting board and cut them in half to create a half moon shape.
  • Roll each half into a smooth round ball and store them in the freezer for a few minutes while you prep the dredging station.
  • Mix the flour, salt, and pepper in a shallow bowl or dish. Whisk the egg in a separate dish and the breadcrumbs in a third and final bowl or dish.
  • Using one hand, roll a goat cheese ball in flour, pressing gently to coat all sides in the flour so it sticks. Transfer to the egg and roll it to cover in egg. Using the same hand, transfer the goat cheese ball to the bowl of breadcrumbs. Roll it around to make sure the entire outside is coated so you can’t see any egg coming through.
  • Place it back on the parchment-lined baking sheet and repeat with the remaining goat cheese balls. You can cover and store the goat cheese balls in the freezer for up to 1 month to prep them in advance.
  • When you’re ready to fry, move the goat cheese balls to one side of the baking sheet and line the other half with a paper towel.
  • To fry the goat cheese, heat 1 1/2 inches of olive oil or avocado oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until it reaches an internal temperature of 360-375°F using an instant read thermometer or candy thermometer.
  • When the oil reaches temperature, drop 3-5 goat cheese balls into the hot oil at a time. Cook for approximately 30 seconds on each side, turning with a fork or spider strainer when it reaches a deep golden color. Use a spider strainer to remove the goat cheese and transfer theme to the prepared paper towel.
  • Check the oil temperature again and adjust the heat to reach 360-390°F. Drop 3-5 more balls oof goat cheese into the hot oil and repeat until you fry each goat cheese ball.
  • Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and red pepper flakes if desired. Serve with hot honey sauce or warm marinara.

Recipe Equipment

Small Saucepan (Note 3)
Large baking sheet

Notes

Note 1. Goat Cheese. We used plain goat cheese but you can use flavored goat cheese with herbs or spices. The goat cheese should be chilled because warm goat cheese is soft and hard to work with. 
Note 2. Gluten-Free Flour. We tested this with Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 gluten-free flour, but we also like King Arthur’s Measure for Measure flour.
Note 3. Small Saucepan. You’ll be frying them in batches anyway so a small saucepan means you’ll use less oil. A small pan also helps heat the oil more quickly.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 316kcal | Carbohydrates: 18.4g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 21.1g | Cholesterol: 52.8mg | Sodium: 567.7mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1.2g | Vitamin A: 149.7IU | Vitamin C: 0mg
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