Name: Lemon-Herb Goat Cheese Ball
Total time: 3 h 45 min
Yield: Serves 15 to 20
Ingredients: 2 cups crumbled goat cheese; 8 ounces cream cheese, softened; 2 tablespoons lemon juice; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil; 1 garlic clove, minced; 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest; 1/2 cup finely chopped chives

Why This Recipe Works

We passed on the processed cheese for more flavorful goat cheese for our Lemon-Herb Goat Cheese Balls. To add creaminess and help bind the ingredients, we turned to cream cheese. A few hours in the refrigerator ensured that the cheese balls set up perfectly.

Instructions

COMBINE INGREDIENTS Process goat cheese, cream cheese, lemon juice, basil, garlic, and lemon zest in food processor until smooth.

SHAPE CHEESE BALL Following Step by Step photo at left, transfer cheese mixture to center of large sheet of plastic wrap and tightly wrap, shaping cheese into rough ball. Refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours. (Cheese ball can be refrigerated for 2 days.)

COAT CHEESE BALL Once cheese ball is firm, reshape as necessary to form smooth ball. Unwrap and roll in chives to coat. Let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. Serve.