- 160 g (1 cup) dried cranberries craisins
- 150 g (1 cup) pistachios shelled, roasted and salted
- 220 g goat cheese
- 125 g cream cheese like Philly, softened to room temp
- 2 tbsp honey
Using a food processor, chop the dried cranberries into small pieces. Set aside. If using a Thermomix: use the Turbo function and mix in 1 second intervals until finely chopped. Set aside. Place the pistachios into the food processor and chop finely.If using a Thermomix: use the Turbo function and mix in 1 second intervals until finely chopped. Set aside. Place the goat cheese, cream cheese and honey into a bowl. Add ¼ cup of the chopped pistachios and ¼ cup of the chopped cranberries. Mix until well combined. Place a sheet of plastic wrap onto a flat bench. Shape the cheese mixture into a log shape and wrap in the plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Place the remaining chopped cranberries and pistachios onto a flat tray or piece of baking paper.
Unwrap the cheese log and coat with the extra dried cranberries and pistachios.
Refrigerate until required. Remove the cheese log from the fridge 10-15 minutes before serving to allow it to soften slightly.
Serve with a drizzle of honey (optional).
RECIPE NOTES & TIPS:
- Make sure to use dried cranberries and not fresh ones.
- If you don't have pistachios on hand, you can use another type of nut that you like, such as chopped pecans, almonds, or walnuts. Just make sure to chop them finely so that they are evenly distributed throughout the dip.
- Honey is an excellent sweetener for this dip, but you can also use agave if you prefer. Just be sure to adjust the amount to your taste.
- It's important to refrigerate the cheese log for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavours to meld and for the log to firm up. This will also make it easier to coat the log with the dried cranberries and pistachios.
- Before serving, be sure to remove the cheese log from the fridge 10-15 minutes before serving to allow it to soften slightly. This will make it easier to spread on crackers or bread.
- To add even more flavour to the dip, you can try mixing in some herbs or spices, such as chopped fresh herbs like parsley or chives, or ground spices like cumin or paprika. Experiment with different combinations to find the flavour that you like best.
Calories: 160kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 61mg | Potassium: 139mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 247IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg