Goat Cheese Tempura with Shaved Fennel and Orange

Goat Cheese Tempura with Shaved Fennel and Orange (Serves 2)

A light and sunny starter

This recipe combines the crispness of fennel and the freshness of orange with the richness of lightly fried goat cheese. Perfect as a refined appetizer or a light meal, it features simple ingredients that are naturally rich in antioxidants and good for the heart.

Ingredients

2 Chavignol goat cheeses (crottins)
½ bulb of fennel
1 Navel or Valencia orange
1 egg
¼ cup flour
¼ cup Japanese breadcrumbs (Panko style)
Organic virgin canola (rapeseed) oil for frying
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
A few Kalamata olives
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

Coat the cheese
Prepare three shallow dishes: one with flour, one with breadcrumbs, and one with the lightly beaten egg.
Roll the cold goat cheeses successively in the flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. Keep refrigerated.
Prepare the fennel salad
Using a mandoline, slice the fennel into paper-thin shavings.
Segment the orange (remove the skin and membranes) and squeeze the remaining juice over the fennel to let it marinate briefly.
Pit and slice the olives into thin strips.
Assembly
Place the fennel shavings in the center of a shallow plate, drizzle lightly with olive oil, and season.
Frying
Quickly fry the breaded cheeses in hot canola oil until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towel.
Plating
Place the fried cheeses over the fennel, add the orange segments and olives, and garnish with a few fennel fronds.

Chef’s Tip

For a lighter option, bake the breaded cheeses in the oven at 400 °F (200 °C) for about 10 minutes, until golden brown.

Bon appétit!

💚 Cardiovascular benefits of this recipe

This colorful dish brings together pleasure and well-being in perfect harmony.

Orange provides vitamin C and flavonoids such as hesperidin, known for their anti-inflammatory and artery-protective properties.
Fennel contains vitamin C and phenolic compounds (anethole, quercetin) that help combat oxidative stress.
Extra-virgin olive oil and Kalamata olives are rich in polyphenols and anthocyanins, which support vascular health and help maintain healthy cholesterolCholesterol is essential for the proper functioning of the human body, but it can also have harmful effects if present in excess. >> balance.
Goat cheese adds selenium and zinc, minerals that support the body’s natural antioxidant defenses.