As a kid, my parents’ business was right around the corner from The Milk Pail, the best open-air market and cheese shop in town. I’d go with my mom to pick out different cheeses to try, some delicious and some so stinky I’ve blocked their names out of my memory. The milder, more approachable goat cheeses were always a favorite, and I now keep one in my fridge most of the time.
The Milk Pail is no longer in business (and I no longer live nearby), so I’m getting my cheese fix elsewhere: Trader Joe’s. I love how they get new cheeses in every season, and my favorite entry this spring is the Chèvre with Fine Herbs. It’s goaty, tangy, and herby, and I plan on enjoying it as much as I can while it’s still on the shelves!
Trader Joe’s Chèvre with Fine Herbs
- Price: $3.29 for a 5-ounce log
- Why I Love It: The herb-crusted goat cheese is surprisingly versatile. It’s delicious spread on crackers or crumbled on top of salads, grain bowls, and soups.
Simply Recipes / Trader Joe’s
Why I Love Trader Joe’s Chèvre with Fine Herbs
The texture of this chèvre is similar to most other fresh goat cheeses I’ve tried. It’s pasty and smooth, with a texture that’s slightly firmer than cream cheese. Straight out of the fridge, it’s solid enough to be crumbled. When left to come up to room temperature, it becomes soft and spreadable.
What sets this cheese apart are the herbs: The 5-ounce log is coated in a blend of chopped parsley, basil, dill, chervil, tarragon, and chives. The cheese is tangy and flavorful enough to stand up to the herbs, neither overpowering the other. I like how the basil, chervil, and tarragon give off slightly licorice-y notes, while the dill and parsley are brighter. It’s a very well-balanced blend. While basil isn’t a typical addition to traditional French fines herbes, I like it here!
I’m using this cheese in all sorts of different ways. For one, it makes an attractive addition to a cheese plate alongside some TJ’s brioche toasts or other mildly flavored crackers. You can also crumble it over a mixed green salad, grilled vegetables, tomato soup, and more.
Goat cheese works well in so many dishes. I like to crumble it over grain bowls and plates of pasta and mix it into frittatas and quiches—really, anywhere you might think to use feta, this goat cheese will add extra herbal flavor.
Best of all is the price. A 5-ounce log retails for $3.29, the same as TJ’s chèvre with honey, another delicious mainstay of the store’s cheese aisle. I find the honey variety is a bit less versatile, while the herbed cheese can be used in many more savory dishes. I’ll be a little sad when it’s been replaced by next season’s goat cheese, but I’m sure that one will be delicious, too.
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