Tuscan Sunburst Appetizer (Printable)

Tuscan-style dish with lemon goat cheese and sliced yellow peppers arranged with breadsticks.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 3 large yellow bell peppers, seeded and thinly sliced

→ 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)

# Steps:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's the kind of dish that looks like you spent hours in the kitchen when really you're done before the guests arrive.
  • The tartness of lemon plays against the sweetness of roasted peppers in a way that makes everyone pause and ask what that flavor is.
  • You can prep everything in advance and assemble it the moment people walk through the door.
02 -
  • Cold goat cheese won't spread smoothly, so let it sit on the counter for ten minutes before mixing—this single step saves frustration and creates better texture.
  • If you're making this more than an hour ahead, keep the pepper strips separate and assemble only when you're ready to serve, otherwise they'll start to weep and soften.
03 -
  • A microplane zester makes lemon zest almost fluffy, which distributes the flavor more evenly through the cheese than a traditional grater.
  • If the goat cheese is too firm when you start, let it warm slightly by adding it to the bowl last and mixing gently—the friction of stirring will soften it further.
Go Back