Baked Goat's Cheese Wrapped in Walnut Pastry with Fig Relish | Guest Recipes | Nigella's Recipes (2024)

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1. To make the pastry, place the walnuts in a small food processor and blitz to a rough crumb consistency. Add the butter, sugar, salt and flour and blitz till the mixture starts resembling bread crumbs again, then add the egg white and blitz once more until you have a ball of pastry.
2. Remove from the food processor and divide into two balls. Flatten them onto the work surface with the palm of your hand to create two rounds, each about 10cm/4 inches in diameter, more or less. Place one goat's cheese in the centre of each round and, using your hands, lift the pastry up the sides to wrap it. Don't worry if the pastry cracks a little; it is very pliable and you can patch as needed.
3. Lift each one up, and press and smooth the pastry around the cheese to create a solid casing. Pinch off any excess pastry and use the trimmings to create a pattern for the top, if you like (you can create a little leaf by hand or cut out a specific shape). Pat the pastry down all around so you have a clean, sealed finish.
4. Top each parcel with the decoration made from the trimmings and a walnut half (if you wish), then place on a small tray, lined with baking paper, in the fridge to rest for at least 30 minutes before baking. You can leave these in the fridge for a couple of days to bake fresh when your guests arrive.
5. To make the relish, place all the ingredients in a small saucepan with 50ml / 1¾fl oz/ 3½ tbsp of water and set on a high heat. Bring to the boil and stir well. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, then reduce the heat to low and cook for a further 8-10 minutes until thick. Remove from the heat.
6. When you are ready to bake, heat your oven to 200°C/180°C fan/400°F/gas mark 6. Add a splash of water and a pinch of salt to the egg yolk you set aside earlier, and mix well to create a think glaze. Carefully brush this all over the cold pastry (apart from the base), which will give the end result a nice shine. Place in the centre of the oven for about 15-17 minutes to bake to a lovely, light golden colour.
7. Remove the pastry parcels from the oven and place on a serving platter. Add the fresh rocket, cut figs and roasted walnut halves to your platter and drizzle with olive oil and salt. Serve with the relish on the side. This is best eaten while the cheese is still hot and oozy, but we have been known to eat a cold half at midnight, and it still tastes delicious.

1. To make the pastry, place the walnuts in a small food processor and blitz to a rough crumb consistency. Add the butter, sugar, salt and flour and blitz till the mixture starts resembling bread crumbs again, then add the egg white and blitz once more until you have a ball of pastry.
2. Remove from the food processor and divide into two balls. Flatten them onto the work surface with the palm of your hand to create two rounds, each about 10cm/4 inches in diameter, more or less. Place one goat's cheese in the centre of each round and, using your hands, lift the pastry up the sides to wrap it. Don't worry if the pastry cracks a little; it is very pliable and you can patch as needed.
3. Lift each one up, and press and smooth the pastry around the cheese to create a solid casing. Pinch off any excess pastry and use the trimmings to create a pattern for the top, if you like (you can create a little leaf by hand or cut out a specific shape). Pat the pastry down all around so you have a clean, sealed finish.
4. Top each parcel with the decoration made from the trimmings and a walnut half (if you wish), then place on a small tray, lined with baking paper, in the fridge to rest for at least 30 minutes before baking. You can leave these in the fridge for a couple of days to bake fresh when your guests arrive.
5. To make the relish, place all the ingredients in a small saucepan with 50ml / 1¾fl oz/ 3½ tbsp of water and set on a high heat. Bring to the boil and stir well. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, then reduce the heat to low and cook for a further 8-10 minutes until thick. Remove from the heat.
6. When you are ready to bake, heat your oven to 200°C/180°C fan/400°F/gas mark 6. Add a splash of water and a pinch of salt to the egg yolk you set aside earlier, and mix well to create a think glaze. Carefully brush this all over the cold pastry (apart from the base), which will give the end result a nice shine. Place in the centre of the oven for about 15-17 minutes to bake to a lovely, light golden colour.
7. Remove the pastry parcels from the oven and place on a serving platter. Add the fresh arugula, cut figs and roasted walnut halves to your platter and drizzle with olive oil and salt. Serve with the relish on the side. This is best eaten while the cheese is still hot and oozy, but we have been known to eat a cold half at midnight, and it still tastes delicious.