Goat Cheese In Grape Leaves With Tomato And Olive Salad

By á-170456

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 4 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
• 3/4 teaspoon coarsely-ground black pepper
• 12 large grape leaves from jar rinsed, patted dry, and stemmed
• 3 logs soft goat cheese - (4 to 5 oz ea) each cut
• crosswise into 4 rounds
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 6 large tomatoes thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup coarsely-chopped pitted
• oil-cured black olives - (abt 30)
• 6 slices crusty country-style white bread, 1/2" thk

Preparation

Step 1

Whisk 1/2 cup oil, thyme, and black pepper in small bowl to blend.

Arrange grape leaves, vein-side up, on work surface. Dip each cheese round into thyme oil and place in center of 1 grape leaf. Fold sides of leaves over cheese; fold up bottom and continue to roll up, enclosing cheese completely. Arrange wrapped cheeses, seam-side down, on platter. Brush lightly with some thyme oil. Cover and chill at least 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead; keep chilled. Cover remaining thyme oil and store at room temperature.)

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Whisk 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, vinegar, and mustard in small bowl to blend. Season dressing with salt and pepper. Slightly overlap tomato slices on large platter. Drizzle with dressing; sprinkle with half of olives.

Place wrapped cheese rounds on grill, seam-side down. Grill until cheese softens and leaves begin to char, about 2 minutes per side. Arrange cheeses atop tomatoes. Sprinkle with remaining olives.

Brush bread slices with remaining thyme oil. Grill bread until beginning to brown, turning occasionally, about 5 minutes. Cut toasts diagonally in half. Serve cheese, passing toasts separately.

This recipe yields 12 appetizer servings.