Goat Cheese and Spinach Tartines

Goat cheese and spinach tartines are a simple and tasty appetizer, perfect for an aperitif or a buffet. Here’s how to prepare them.

Ingredients

• Slices of homemade bread or baguette
• 200 g fresh goat cheese
• 200 g fresh spinach
• 1 garlic clove
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Walnuts or pine nuts for garnish (optional)

Preparation

1. Start by lightly toasting the bread slices in the oven or in a pan until golden and crispy.
2. Clean the spinach by removing the roots and damaged leaves. Rinse the spinach under running water and drain well.
3. In a large pan, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil with a crushed garlic clove. When the garlic starts to sizzle, add the spinach and cook for a few minutes until wilted and tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste and remove the garlic.
4. Take the toasted bread slices and spread a generous amount of fresh goat cheese on top.
5. Distribute the sautéed spinach over the goat cheese. If desired, you can also add some chopped walnuts or toasted pine nuts on top for a crunchy touch and extra flavor.
6. Serve the tartines while still warm or at room temperature.

If you want to give it a more Italian touch, you could for example add a drizzle of balsamic vinegar glaze on top of the tartines before serving them, for a pleasant sweet-tangy contrast.

Trivia

Goat cheese is appreciated for its creaminess and its fresh, slightly tangy flavor, which pairs well with spinach. This pairing is very common not only in Italy but also in French cuisine.