Tuscan Sunburst Appetizer (Print)

Bright yellow bell peppers paired with lemony goat cheese and Italian breadsticks for a fresh summer starter.

# Ingredients:

→ 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 (from 1–2 lemons)
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 grissini (Italian breadsticks)

# Instructions:

01 - In a medium bowl, blend goat cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, chives, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.
02 - Lay the yellow bell pepper strips in a circular pattern on a large serving platter to mimic sun rays, leaving the center clear.
03 - Spoon the lemon-infused goat cheese into the platter’s center, shaping it into a neat circle or dome.
04 - Arrange grissini around the platter, radiating outward from the cheese like sun rays.
05 - Present immediately, encouraging guests to scoop cheese using the breadsticks and bell pepper strips.

# Pro Tips:

01 -
  • It looks like restaurant-quality elegance but comes together faster than you'd think.
  • The bright lemon cuts through the creaminess in a way that makes people close their eyes and sigh.
  • No oven required—just your hands, a platter, and the confidence to arrange things beautifully.
02 -
  • If your goat cheese is cold straight from the fridge, it won't mix smoothly—give it ten minutes on the counter first, or you'll be fighting lumps.
  • The peppers release moisture as they sit, so if you're making this more than thirty minutes ahead, drain any liquid that pools at the bottom before serving.
03 -
  • Use a microplane zester for the lemon—it creates fine, evenly distributed zest that distributes better than chunky pieces.
  • Taste the cheese mixture before you plate anything; you're the boss of how tangy or salty it gets, so adjust to what your mouth actually wants.
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