Description
Delightful herb goat cheese bites showcase Mediterranean flavors with crispy exterior and creamy interior. Guests will savor these elegant appetizers perfect for entertaining or enjoying as a quick, sophisticated snack.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 oz (113 g) goat cheese
- 1 egg
- ½ cup (60 g) panko bread crumbs
- 2 tbsps (15 g) flour
- 1 tbsp rosemary, finely chopped
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to preference for heat)
- Cooking spray (such as avocado oil)
Instructions
- Preparation: Divide goat cheese into eight uniform spheres, rolling each into a compact round. Freeze for 30 minutes to achieve optimal firmness.
- Coating Setup: Organize three breading stations – first with flour, second with whisked egg, third mixing panko crumbs, rosemary, salt, and red pepper flakes.
- Breading Process: Remove chilled cheese spheres and coat systematically. Dust with flour, shake excess, dip in egg, then roll thoroughly in seasoned panko, pressing gently to create a complete textured exterior.
- Air Fryer Arrangement: Spritz air fryer basket with cooking spray. Position breaded cheese bites with strategic spacing, ensuring no contact between morsels.
- Cooking: Set air fryer to 400° and cook for 5-7 minutes. Watch carefully as cheese transforms into golden, crispy bites with a caramelized outer shell, achieving a perfect balance of crunch and creamy interior.
Notes
- Chill Cheese Strategically: Freezing goat cheese spheres for 30 minutes helps maintain shape and prevents melting during air frying, creating a perfectly crisp exterior.
- Breading Technique Matters: Create a three-station coating process to ensure even, comprehensive coverage – flour removes moisture, egg helps breading stick, seasoned panko adds flavorful crunch.
- Air Fryer Spacing is Crucial: Arrange breaded cheese bites with space between them to allow hot air circulation, preventing soggy or unevenly cooked results.
- Watch Cooking Time Carefully: 5-7 minutes at 400° is the sweet spot for achieving a golden-brown crispy shell without overcooking the delicate goat cheese interior.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 5-7 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 280 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg