appetizerinspo – The Ardent Cook

Pomegranate Goat Cheese Guacamole

With the holidays looking different this year, I figured it would be an okay time to create a non-traditional Christmas Eve appetizer. Speaking from experience, not many holiday gatherings include a big vat of guac, so why not break the mold this year? When Erika of Esteem Wellness kindly offered to feature one of my recipes on her account, I knew I wanted it to be simple, made from clean, whole ingredients, festive, and delicious. This guacamole fits the bill. Did I mention that it’s made using only 5 ingredients? Jump on this, folks!

Ingredients needed to make Pomegranate Goat Cheese Guacamole

As I said above, this guac requires just FIVE ingredients. It’s absolutely delicious and so simple to pull together. All you need are a few ripe avocados, fresh lime juice, pomegranate arils, goat cheese, and salt. If you’d like to take this guac up a notch, it would also be delicious dusted with some fresh chopped cilantro, roasted pistachios, or crushed red pepper flakes for a touch of heat. Serve it with your favorite tortilla chips and you’re ready to go!

Tools used to make Pomegranate Goat Cheese Guacamole

Everyone has their preferred method of mashing guac, but the easiest way, in my opinion, is to use an old-fashioned potato masher. This one is very similar to what I have at home and it leaves me with perfect, lump-free guac every time. If you don’t have a masher, you could use a fork, a pastry cutter, or even your hands. You’ll also need the following tools to complete this recipe:

Sharp chef’s knife
Cutting board
Medium mixing bowl
Optional: citrus squeezer

How to make Pomegranate Goat Cheese Guacamole

This guacamole couldn’t be simpler to make. You’ll start by halving your avocados and carefully removing the pits. Scoop the flesh of the avocado into your mixing bowl, then squeeze the juice of half a lime into the bowl. Add the salt and mash until thoroughly combined. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with the goat cheese and pomegranates. Serve with tortilla chips and enjoy!

Looking for other easy appetizer recipes?

Try these options from The Ardent Cook

Savory Holiday Snack Mix

Whipped Feta Dip

Cheesy Black Bean Skillet Dip

Pst!! Looking for a cocktail to pair with this guac? Try my Holiday Heart Beet Cocktail!

Recipe Ingredients

3 medium, ripe avocados

Juice of 1/2 lime

1/4 tsp salt, plus more to taste

1/4 cup pomegranate arils

2-3oz fresh goat cheese, crumbled

Optional add-ins: fresh cilantro, chopped pistachios, crushed red pepper flakes

Recipe Instructions

Halve the avocados and carefully remove the pits. Scoop the flesh of each avocado into a mixing bowl.
Add the lime juice and salt, then mash to combine.
Transfer to a serving bowl and top with the pomegranate arils and goat cheese. Serve alongside your favorite tortilla chips and enjoy! Leftovers keep for 1-2 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

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Whipped Feta Dip

Whipped Feta Dip is the perfect unexpected addition to any appetizer spread. Served alongside dippers such as seeded crackers, toasted pita, or crudités, the salty bite of the feta leaves you coming back for more after each bite.

Ingredients needed to make Whipped Feta Dip

The first ingredient in Whipped Feta Dip is, well, feta cheese. My recipe calls for 6oz, although I typically buy feta in 8oz blocks. So, I’ll just use 3/4 of the block and return the rest to the fridge for crumbling over salads or other miscellaneous uses. Then, you’ll need roughly 2oz of cream cheese. I actually love to use an almond-milk based cream cheese for this dip, because the nuttiness compliments the tangy feta so well. But, almond-milk cream cheese, or any vegan cream cheese, is typically more expensive and using the regular old blocks will work (and taste) just as good. Here’s the list in its entirety:

Feta cheese
Cream cheese
Fresh lemon juice
Olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
Fresh herbs, such as thyme or oregano
Crackers or toasted pita bread

Tools used to make Whipped Feta Dip

Whipped Feta Dip is the perfect snack because it truly requires one kitchen tool to make: a food processor. Limited dishes means more time to enjoy your appetizer and the company of those you’re sharing it with. I use this food processor and have for a few years now. I love it because of the versatility!

How to make Whipped Feta Dip

This unique appetizer couldn’t be easier to pull together. Simply throw all of the ingredients into the bowl of your food processor, pulse until its combined and the texture has become slightly fluffy, and spoon into a bowl. Arrange your crackers or pita around the whipped feta, and finish with a drizzle of olive oil, freshly cracked black pepper, and fresh herbs of your choice. Quick, easy, and wonderful!

Looking for other dip ideas?

Give these other appetizer recipes from The Ardent Cook a try!

Turmeric Cauliflower Hummus

Muhammara-Style Roasted Red Pepper Dip

Cheesy Black Bean Skillet Dip

Recipe Ingredients

6oz room-temperature feta (I buy an 8oz block and use about ¾ of it)

2oz room-temperature cream cheese

Juice of ½ lemon (about 2 tbsp)

Olive oil, for serving

Freshly ground black pepper, for serving

Fresh herbs, such as thyme or oregano, for serving

Crackers or toasted pita, for serving

Recipe Instructions

Allow the feta and cream cheese to come to room temperature before proceeding with the recipe. To do this, I take them out of the fridge a few hours before I plan on using them.
Add the feta, cream cheese, and lemon juice to a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is creamy and slightly whipped in texture.
At this point, you may transfer the room temperature dip to a serving bowl, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with fresh herbs and black pepper. Alternatively, chill in the fridge for a few hours, then proceed with garnish. Enjoy!