Goat Cheese Mousse With Red-wine Caramel

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 cups dry red wine
• 1/2 cup ruby port
• 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorn
• 1 shallot, minced
• 2 fresh thyme sprigs, plus
• 1/2 teaspoon chopped thyme
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 cups strawberries, hulled (2 pints)
• 2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
• 2 tablespoons water
• 11 ounces fresh goat cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 pinch fresh ground pepper
• crostini, for serving
• toasted walnuts, for serving

Recipe

• 1 in a saucepan, bring the wine, port, black peppercorns, shallot, thyme sprigs and 1 cup of the sugar to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
• 2 using a moistened pastry brush, wash down any sugar crystals on the side of the pan.
• 3 cook over moderate heat, without stirring, until syrupy and reduced to 1 cup, about 35 minutes.
• 4 strain and discard the solids.
• 5 let the caramel cool slightly.
• 6 meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, toss the strawberries, orange zest, water and the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and let stand until juicy, about 30 minutes.
• 7 bring the strawberries to a boil and simmer over moderate heat until slightly thickened and jammy, about 15 minutes.
• 8 transfer the compote to a bowl and let cool.
• 9 in a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the goat cheese, cream, ground pepper and chopped thyme until creamy.
• 10 spoon the mousse into a bowl and serve with the compote, caramel, crostini and walnuts so guests can assemble their own.