Baked Marinara and Goat Cheese

Baked Marinara and Goat Cheese

Looking for a tasty appetizer that’s sure to please everyone? Check out this tantalizing recipe for Baked Marinara and Goat Cheese! This dip combines simple ingredients like marinara, basil, and goat cheese and will hit the spot when you’re craving Italian flavors.

To make this Baked Marinara and Goat Cheese, you just need to add the ingredients to a baking dish, throw it in the oven and (not so) patiently wait for it to finish! After the dip comes out of the oven, you will be left with a bubbly, cheesy, and melty appetizer that is perfect to pair with toasted bread. This is a recipe that can easily be finished off while you are busy entertaining guests.

Despite it’s simplicity, this recipe is rich in both flavor and nutrition. Thanks to the canned tomato product (marinara sauce), there is a plethora of nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, potassium, and lycopene. Both vitamin C and lycopene are antioxidants that function in our body to reduce inflammation and destroy free radicals that can cause disease. Additionally, lycopene has been proven to protect the body against many chronic diseases and even reduce the risk of stroke, which is why canned tomatoes are one superfood you should have in your pantry.

You can also make this recipe all year round, as canned tomatoes are a nutritious and affordable pantry staple. So, what are you waiting for? Give this Baked Marinara and Goat Cheese a try for your next party. And don’t forget to make extra–this dip is so good that it will fly right off the table!

Baked Marinara and Goat Cheese

Baked Marinara and Goat Cheese

Looking for a tasty appetizer that's sure to please everyone? Check out this tantalizing recipe for Baked Marinara and Goat Cheese!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 (8 oz.) log goat cheese, softened
  • 2 cups marinara sauce
  • ½ tsp. kosher salt
  • ½ cup fresh basil, chiffonade

Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 375˚F.
    2. Spray a small baking dish with cooking spray. Press the goat cheese to fit the shape of the pan, leaving a 1-inch border around the edge. 
    3. Spoon the marinara sauce along the edge and along the sides of the goat cheese. Make sure to not cover the center of the cheese. Sprinkle salt over top.
    4. Bake it in the oven for 20-25 minutes until the goat cheese is soft and the marinara is bubbling. 
    5. Remove the cheese from the oven and top with fresh basil. Serve with bread and crackers and enjoy!
    Looking for more delicious dips? Check out some of our favorites:

    BLT Dip
    One Skillet Beefy 7-Layer Dip
    Cheesy Pizza Dip
    Chicken Parmesan Dip

    Cheesy Pizza Dip

    Cheesy Pizza Dip

    What could be more comforting than dipping bread into a bubbling hot dish of savory Marinara sauce laden with melted cheese? We’re not really sure, which is why this recipe for Cheesy Pizza Dip should be on your appetizer rotation this month. While it tastes decadent, you can feel good about eating it knowing that it’s good for you too.

    In the winter, canned tomatoes make the absolute best dips because they are picked at the peak of ripeness and their summer flavor is locked in. (In fact, this is a secret that tomato growers have long been using to impress their party guests.) When you slow roast those canned tomatoes you concentrate their flavor even more as they become gorgeously browned and caramelized in the oven. Here, those glorious tomatoes are jarred up into a flavorful marinara sauce that serves as a healthful base for a flavor-packed party appetizer your guests will love. Serve with toasted bread and enjoy! While this Cheesy Pizza Dip may look simple, it’s filled with irresistible flavor that everyone is sure to enjoy!

    Get the full recipe for Cheesy Pizza Dip from Ellie Krieger, RDN.

    Check out these other delicious recipes from Ellie:

    Shakshuka Pita Pizzas
    Creamy Tomato Soup with Popcorn
    Winter Caprese Toasts with Roasted Tomatoes and Pesto 

    Stock Your Pantry with Canned Goods for Convenience and Health

    Stock Your Pantry with Canned Goods for Convenience and Health

    You don’t have to break the budget to enjoy a healthful meal! Canned goods are making a comeback thanks to their versatility and affordability. From tomato products to chickpeas, give these tried and true pantry staples a fresh look.

    Even for the most organized among us, it can feel like a overwhelming task to get any dinner on the table for the family during the week, let alone a healthy one. So, what’s the secret to making weeknight dinners a cinch? According to dietitian Ellie Krieger, three components are key: a well-stocked pantry, a little bit of planning, and not overthinking it. 

    With the right ingredients in your pantry and freezer, dinner is never as hard as it might seem. Ellie says that she always keeps canned goods (like tomatoes) in her pantry, since she says they are a busy home cook’s best friend. Not only do they make a great base for sauces, but they offer a powerful nutrition punch with their high lycopene content.  She is also a big fan of beans (more specifically, white beans, pinto beans, chickpeas), as well as frozen seafood, as these high protein options can create endless delicious combinations in the kitchen.

    Learn more about how Ellie keeps weeknight dinners healthy here.

    For other pantry food inspiration, check out some of our favorite posts:

    Best Budget-Friendly Foods for the Pantry
    Tried and True Pantry Staples

    Ellie was our RD of the month! Learn more about her here. And don’t forget to check out some of her favorite recipes featuring canned tomatoes!

    Winter Caprese Toasts with Roasted Tomatoes and Pesto
    Shakshuka Pita Pizzas
    Creamy Tomato Soup with Popcorn

    Shakshuka

    Shakshuka

    Take your breakfast game to the next level with this ethnic Shakshuka recipe. Filled with warm spices, hearty tomatoes, and gooey eggs, this is sure to become your favorite weekend breakfast. #KitchenTravel

    Eating the same things for breakfast everyday can get monotonous, so spice things up with this ethic recipe for Shakshuka. This vegetarian dish contains high levels of protein, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats, which makes it a well-balanced breakfast to start your day off right. Plus, you can have it on the table in under 30 minutes! Whether you serve it for brunch, a special occasion, or even on a weekday, it’s a recipe that everyone is sure to love.

    What makes shakshuka so delicious (and nutritious) is the combination of eggs and the tomato base. Eggs add a heafy dose of protein, while the canned tomatoes provide a plethora of antioxidants (such as lycopene) that play an integral role in the reduction of certain types of diseases and cancers. In fact, numerous studies have linked lycopene consumption with prostate cancer protection. While lycopene is present in other fruits such as watermelon and pink grapefruit, tomatoes, which are the second most consumed vegetable (second to potatoes) in the U.S., account for more than 85% of the lycopene in the American diet. Interestingly, cooked tomato products—as in processed tomatoes, including tomato sauce and canned tomatoes—may hold particular significance. The lycopene from cooked and processed tomatoes is more bioavailable than that of fresh tomatoes. Heating or processing breaks down the tomato cell matrix and promotes isomerization of lycopene from all-trans isomers to the more bioavailable form of cis-isomers. Research shows that single daily servings of processed tomato products produce significant increases of lycopene concentrations in blood and buccal mucosal cells in healthy adults.

    So, go ahead and enjoy this recipe for Shakshuka over the weekend! Your body and taste buds will thank you.

    Yield: 6 servings

    Shakshuka

    Take your breakfast game to the next level with this ethnic Shakshuka recipe. Filled with warm spices, hearty tomatoes, and gooey eggs, this is sure to become your favorite weekend breakfast. #KitchenTravel

    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Prep Time 20 minutes
    Total Time 30 minutes

    Ingredients

    • 1 onion, diced
    • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
    • 4 garlic cloves, minced
    • 2 tsp. paprika
    • 1 tsp. cumin
    • ¼ tsp. chili powder
    • 1 (28 oz) can whole peeled tomatoes
    • 6 large eggs
    • salt and pepper, to taste
    • 1 small bunch cilantro, chopped
    • 1 small bunch parsley, chopped

    Instructions

      1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 
      2. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add in the onion and bell pepper. Sauté until the onion turns translucent. 
      3. Mix in the garlic, paprika, cumin, and chili powder. Cook for 1 minute.
      4. Add the tomatoes into the pan. Use a spoon to break down the tomatoes then season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring the sauce to a simmer.
      5. Use a spoon to make 6 small wells in the sauce. Crack an egg into each well. Transfer to the oven and bake for 5-8 minutes, until the whites have set and the yolk is still jiggly. 
      6. Garnish with the chopped cilantro and parsley. Enjoy!

    If you’re looking for other delicious breakfast recipes, check out some of our favorites:

    Zesty Tomato Smoothie
    Breakfast Egg Bake
    Muhammara Walnut Shakshuka

    Mediterranean Baked Fish

    Mediterranean Baked Fish

    So easy, and yet so elegant. This recipe for Mediterranean Baked Fish allows your taste buds to travel the world, from the comfort of your own kitchen! #KitchenTravel

    Your taste buds will be swimming in happiness with this Mediterranean Baked Fish recipe. Thanks to simple ingredients and a fast cook time, you can get this quick and healthy dinner on the table for any night of the week. 

    The flavor of the fresh cod fillets mixes beautifully with the artichokes, canned tomatoes and kalamata olives, and the feta cheese crumbles on top helps complete the Mediterranean taste. For those whom follow the Mediterranean diet this will fulfill all the components; high protein from the cod fillet, and packed with vegetables and olive oil for a low carb nutritious meal!

    The canned tomatoes marry all the flavors together wonderfully.  Canned tomatoes are a real powerhouse ingredient.  Adding the bright red color comes from the nutrient of lycopene.  Lycopene is rich in antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, and has been proven to protect the body against many chronic diseases. Similar to most nutrients, it’s more natural to obtain lycopene from foods rather than supplements. In order to achieve maximum health benefits associated with lycopene, it is recommended to consume tomato products with a heart healthy fat, such as olive oil or avocado. That’s why we recommend enjoying lycopene and its health benefits through delicious foods such as this recipe. So, what are you waiting for? Enjoy some canned tomato products today!

    Yield: 4 servings

    Mediterranean Baked Fish

    Mediterranean Baked Fish

    So easy, and yet so elegant. This dish allows your taste buds to travel the world, from the comfort of your own kitchen! #KitchenTravel

    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 30 minutes
    Total Time 35 minutes

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ Tbsp. olive oil
    • ½ yellow onion, chopped
    • 6 cloves garlic
    • 1 (28 oz.) can chopped tomatoes
    • ½ cup fresh chopped basil
    • salt and pepper, to taste
    • 4 (4 oz.) cod filets
    • ½ cup crumbled feta
    • 1 (15 oz.) can artichoke hearts, drained
    • 4 oz. kalamata olives
    • 2 Tbsp. capers
    • 1 lemon, sliced

    Instructions

      1. Preheat the oven to 375˚F.
      2. Heat the olive oil in a large oven-safe pan over medium heat. Add in the onion and garlic and saute until the onion turns translucent. Then mix in the canned chopped tomatoes and basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring the mixture to just a boil then remove it from the heat.
      3. Nestle the cod filets into the sauce and sprinkle the feta cheese on top. Add the artichokes into the sauce, in between the fish. Layer the lemon slices on top of the cod filets. Sprinkle the olives and capers on top.
      4. Transfer the pan into the oven and bake it for 15-25 minutes or until the cod is fully cooked. Enjoy!
    For other delicious tomato-based recipes, check out some of our favorites:

    Walnut and Mushroom Ragu
    Sausage Tortellini Soup
    Huevos Rancheros