Description
A warm and creamy Goat Cheese & Marinara Dip perfect for entertaining, combining tangy goat cheese, creamy cream cheese, and savory marinara sauce, baked to bubbly perfection and served with crispy crostini or crackers.
Ingredients
Scale
Dip Ingredients
- 8 ounces goat cheese softened
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 1/2 cups jarred marinara sauce
- Pinch of kosher salt
- Fresh basil for garnish
Crostini Ingredients
- Baguette sliced into 1/2 inch slices
- Olive oil for brushing
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a small baking dish (approximately 8 inches) with cooking spray to prepare for the dip.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the softened goat cheese, cream cheese, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and dried basil until smooth and well mixed.
- Assemble the Dip: Spread the cheese mixture into the baking dish, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges. Pour the marinara sauce into the border surrounding the cheese mixture, then sprinkle a pinch of kosher salt over the top.
- Bake the Dip: Bake the dish at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes or until the marinara sauce is bubbly and the cheese is golden brown on top.
- Prepare Crostini: While the dip bakes, slice a baguette into 1/2-inch slices. Arrange on a baking sheet and drizzle or brush each side with olive oil. Bake for 7 minutes, then flip slices over and bake another 4 minutes until golden on both sides.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the dip from the oven and garnish with fresh basil ribbons (chiffonade). Serve the warm dip immediately with the freshly baked crostini or crisp crackers for dipping.
Notes
- Serve with crostini, crisp crackers, or celery sticks for variety.
- For a homemade touch, use fresh marinara sauce instead of jarred if preferred.
- Make crostini at the same time as the dip to save time and ensure everything is served warm.
- Use kosher salt to season, but adjust to taste if using other salts.
- Fresh basil chiffonade adds a nice aromatic garnish that compliments the flavors.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 recipe
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
