Tuscan Sunburst Appetizer (Printable view)

Bright yellow peppers and creamy lemon goat cheese arranged with breadsticks for a fresh summer starter.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 3 large yellow bell peppers, seeded and sliced into thin strips

→ Cheese Mixture

02 - 7 oz fresh goat cheese, softened
03 - 1 tablespoon lemon zest
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
05 - 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
07 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Bread

08 - 12 Italian breadsticks (grissini)

# How To Make:

01 - In a medium bowl, combine goat cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, chives, salt, and pepper; mix until smooth and creamy.
02 - Lay yellow bell pepper strips in a circular pattern on a large serving platter, forming sunrays and leaving the center empty.
03 - Spoon the lemon-infused goat cheese into the platter’s center, shaping it into a neat circle or dome.
04 - Place breadsticks radiating outward from the cheese center around the platter like sunrays.
05 - Serve immediately, using breadsticks and pepper strips to scoop up the cheese.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks stunning without requiring culinary school, just an eye for arrangement.
  • The lemon-goat cheese combination tastes bright and summery in a way that feels both elegant and totally approachable.
  • You can make it entirely ahead, which means you're actually enjoying your guests instead of sweating in the kitchen.
02 -
  • If your goat cheese is straight from the fridge, it won't blend smoothly—set it out for 30 minutes first, and your mixing time drops dramatically.
  • The lemon zest should be fine and delicate; if you use a standard grater, you'll get too much bitter pith and the flavor becomes harsh instead of bright.
03 -
  • Use a microplane for the lemon zest—it's the difference between bright flavor and bitter pith, and it matters.
  • Arrange everything on the platter in the kitchen, then bring it out; moving a delicate arrangement across the room is an anxiety you don't need.
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