Baked Apples Stuffed With Goat Cheese And Leeks Recipe

Ingredients for Baked Apples Stuffed With Goat Cheese And Leeks

• Unsalted Butter
• 1 cup thinly sliced leeks
• 1 tablespoon water (plus more as needed)
• Dry White Wine
• 1 bay leaf
• Sea Salt
• 4 ounces goat cheese
• Heavy Cream
• Fresh Ground Black Pepper
• 4 medium-sized apples (Honeycrisp or Fuji recommended)
• Flat Leaf Parsley

How to Make Baked Apples Stuffed With Goat Cheese And Leeks

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Add 1 cup of thinly sliced leeks and cook, shaking the pan and stirring occasionally, until the leeks begin to soften and turn translucent (about 5-7 minutes).
3. Add 1 tablespoon of water, stir, and cover the pan. Continue cooking until the leeks are tender, about 10 minutes, adding more water if needed to prevent sticking.
4. Transfer the cooked leeks to a food processor or blender. Add 4 ounces of goat cheese and 2 tablespoons of heavy cream. Blend until smooth and creamy.
5. Season the mixture with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
6. Core 4 medium-sized apples (such as Honeycrisp or Fuji) and remove a thin strip of peel from the circumference of each apple to create a decorative edge.
7. Gently stuff each apple with an equal amount of the goat cheese and leek mixture, pressing it into the cavity and mounding slightly on top.
8. Place the apples in a baking dish. Pour 1/4 cup of dry white wine around the apples. Place 1 bay leaf in the wine.
9. Lightly salt the inside of each apple cavity.
10. Top each apple with 1/4 tablespoon of the remaining butter.
11. Bake in the center of the oven for 35-45 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the cheese is golden brown and bubbly.
12. Let cool slightly before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm as an appetizer or side dish.