I approached this week’s French Fridays with Dorie with a little bit of trepidation. A Tourteau de Chèvre is basically a baked cheesecake, made with goat’s cheese. No, it wasn’t the goat’s cheese part that worried me, it was the “baked cheesecake” part. Oh, I’ve made them before – but as you can see in this post and this one, I was not successful in producing a cheesecake that didn’t crack when baked. So I was worried. Until I looked at Dorie’s picture and saw that this one is supposed to be cracked and kind of ugly on the top… A perfect baked cheesecake recipe for me then!
Then there was the dough. Even though I had close supervision, I still was not able to produce a dough that was able to be rolled out 🙁
(I swear, I turned my back for one second to grab my camera and she was up there checking it out. Well, I guess she could smell the butter…)
So I resorted to the “press-in” method which I didn’t think would matter so much for a “rustic” dessert like this one…
And just like Dorie says it will, the cake cracked when it baked. It also didn’t get quite black/ brown enough as a true torteau that you would find in France would – our ovens don’t get hot enough for that – but I was still pretty happy with the outcome…
Just to prove that mine is not uglier than it should be, I did a quick comparison…
And the taste?
I served this for Easter dinner dessert. And then again a number of times the week following that. And finally for breakfast as Neil and I watched the Royal Wedding (cake for breakfast seemed fitting!).
It is super light and not too sweet (one of our friends declared it “a little goat-y” for her tastes but I don’t think you can taste the goat that much). We ate it plain though Dorie suggests drizzling it with a little honey – I didn’t think it needed it.
I will definitely be making this one again – such an easy recipe, an impressive result and a dish that lends itself to rusticity? Ça, c’est pour moi!
Want to join French Fridays with Dorie? Join here.
French Fridays with Dorie participants do not publish the recipes on our blogs, rather, we prefer if you purchase Around My French Table for yourselves (trust me, you definitely want this book!) which you can do here on Amazon or Amazon Canada. Or for free worldwide shipping, buy from The Book Depository.
I swear….your French Friday posts are totally tempting me to buy Dorie’s book. I think that it’s time!
After ALL these posts you’re still only tempted? Geesh, put yourself out of your misery and buy it already! 😉
You would love this book – go on!
Your tourteau looks better than Dorie’s, I could barely see the cracks. And Mardi, I would gladly trade in my cheesecake baking skills for your macaron ones right now! I’m still frustrated by my imperfect ones… but hopefully someday soon they’ll turn out lime yours ;-).
🙂 Patience. And practice!
Perfection, Mardi! And I love that the curious cat made a guest appearance…my hungry lab did, too 🙂
All the pets love Dorie’s dishes!
Looks beautiful Mardi. I like your pastry making supervisor, is she always so observant?
Cleo is ALWAYS supervising in the kitchen!
Ciao ! Your tourteau isn’t ugly at all I think it’s actually great looking !
Why thanks!
It looks perfect, Mardi! Just like the one in the book. I am making it now, can’t wait to taste it 😀
Thanks – it really is wonderful!
I love it when the food isn’t supposed to be pretty – way less stress involved in the final outcome.
I am sure this would have been perfect alongside a cuppa for an early morning wedding watch!
Here’s to non-pretty less stressful dishes!
This was delightful.
For all you Americans, don’t think “cheesecake” like you probably know it. With just a hint of sweet, this is really much more enjoyable as a nice savoury dish. (And yes – I DO love my sweets!)
Wine pairings? Well, as this is extremely flexible, “when” it is being served in a meal may be the more deciding factor for me.
With a cafe au lait for the Royal Wedding at 5.30 worked well. So did with an off-dry Riesling after dinner (though not my first choice). A fino Sherry as a wee snack. Or with Pimm’s No.1 Cup was divine.
She looks like she wants to just JUMP at this – which I really can’t blame her.
Well, it’s dairy, right?
I love the picture with the cat overseeing the proceedings. You can’t tell your’s from Dorie’s tart…nice work.
Thanks so much! It must have been all the supervision I had!
Wow this tart looks amazing! Nice job!
Thanks!
I love the idea of this! I also am quite partial to a bit of goatiness, so I guess this outcome is predictable. Also.. dare I say.. I think yours looks better than the picture in the book!
I’ll never tire of Cleo photos. I wonder if Dorie might try and recruit her as a food model in the next book.
I love the idea of that. Cleo isn’t the best model though she could possibly be persuaded to post for morsels of cheesecake. 🙂
Your cat looks like my cat!! I should get back on the French Fridays. Would have LOVED to do (and eat) this dish.
This one was a winner!
There is nothing ugly about that… no mam!
Thanks Brian!
Kitty definitely looks interested! Smart cat 🙂
The cake looks wonderful!
Cleo is one smart kitty!
Yours is better than the one in the picture!! Congrats!
Well thank you so much!
Mardi, the tourteau looks absolutely beautiful! I didn’t think it tasted goaty at all. Both my guys loved it (Ethan said it was a bit like angel food cake). I too had a little help from a feline friend (or so I thought when I saw a nibble taken out of my cake…Ethan later confessed it was him!)
I read your post and it was TOO funny!
*Ma* would definitely be proud 🙂
Why thank you!
Mardi, your torteau is gorgeous! I love the color!
Thanks – I was pretty pleased with it too!
It look pretty darn gorgeous to me. Sounds like it was a wonderful dessert…and breakfast!
An all round winner for any time of the day!
you do Dorie better than Dorie.
{blushes} Thank you!
Cheesecake for breakfast! Yes please 🙂
– Brittany
It’s the perfect breakfast!
This looks so tasty!
I can relate to having trouble with cheesecakes, I’ve also written about my failures 🙁
And I have curious cats too 😀
Baked cheesecakes have eluded me until now. I love this one!
That cat picture totally reminded me of cooking at a friend’s house and the cat wouldn’t leave me alone!! Your cake looked good, pressed-in crust or not.
Thank you. And clearly Cleo doesn’t mind a bit of rusticity!
This looks great – your cat has outstanding taste. I’ve missed the last few weeks of FFwD and am missing it! Might just have to have a late entry for this one. I think I might like to eat this for Mother’s Day. Goat cheese is great for us because the lactose levels are low plus seems like the texture would be superb for cheesecake! Glad you enjoyed it so many ways!
Yes I was pleased this worked out because I have a friend who has lactose issues and this will be perfect to make for her!
Wow, does that look good! Smart kitty…
Mais oui!
I also had trouble rolling out this dough. I ended up pressing the pieces into the pan. I think of you as the perfect cook, so now I don’t feel so bad about my crust.
Your end result looks perfect! The cat thinks so too.
Oh my goodness, there are SO many things I cannot make! But thank you for the compliment!
I had the chance to eat this cake… LOVE it!
Glad you did!
I was chuckling as I saw your cat photo—my Westie was following me around the kitchen when I searched for good lighting to take a picture…I kept one eye on her and one on the Tourteau 🙂 Nana would have been so disappointed after we made it together if my dog ate it. The dish was a very lovely addition to our French Friday success stories. And yours looks absolutely spectacular- well done !
I think all pets seem to think we are cooking just for them!
Your cake looks amazing. I just loved this recipe. A cheesecake that is supposed have cracks is my kind of cheesecake!
I am so excited to win your drawing. Thanks so much!
You are welcome! Enjoy! And I am ALL about cheesecake that is supposed to have cracks in it!
I love cheesecake. And one that’s meant to look a bit ugly, so there’s no pressure? Bring it on! 😉
Yum… Another “win” from Dorie! Though, I shouldn’t be surprised. 🙂
I have to say that I love the rustic look… I think it’s just stunning and seems more comforting and inviting that way.
Yes I am all about the rustic too!
Goat cheese cheesecake? Am I in heaven?
It’s fairly heavenly, yes!
This cheesecake looks absolutely delicious, I think I may find myself giving it a go.
I love the picture of your cat staring at it, I wonder if she was thinking ‘Hmm..this smells good. I wonder if its for me? Surely it must be. It wouldn’t just be sitting there if it wasn’t right?’
I know our family cat, whenever food items get placed in the cool of the utility room (kind of her domain), presumes automatically : ‘Hey, its in my kingdom, it must be mine!’ and promptly helps herself. We’ve learnt the hard way as you may be able to tell.
She is ABSOLUTELY thinking that!
Looks divine, I wish cheese in Argentina weren’t so expensive, we are so lucky in Canada.
I wonder if there might be an alternative you could use?
I’m all about the flavor and this goat cheese cheesecake sounds absolutely delicious! Can’t blame the kitty for wanting a peek… 😎
Oh she wanted more than a peek!
This looks wonderful, I love cheesecakes. I’m also very fond of black cats!
And black cats are very fond of cheesecakes!
I finally got my copy of Dorie’s cookbook 🙂 Still hesitant about joining French Fridays. Too much pressure on me. LOL!
Well you don’t have to do all the challenges!
Stunning looking Tourteau de Chèvre, absolutely gorgeous. Well done.
Mardi, I think yours looks just as good as Dorie’s! Don’t you just love a recipe that allows a few imperfections to make it even more beautiful? Any how, I laughed at the picture of your cat keeping a close eye on your Tourteau. How funny, and to me it just seemed so French (don’t ask me why). What an entertaining post. Thanks for the smiles 🙂
Cleo is very French in some of her mannerisms 😉
Mmm, it looks just like the one from the book! I couldn’t really taste the goat in it either – just seemed like a regular cheesecake to me! Still a winner!
Yes but lighter and not as dense, which I loved!
Great post! Love your pictures and your nervousness. It’s comforting to read others experience it too. 🙂
Oh anything with pastry has me nervous!
One of my favorite appetizers is a cheesecake made with goat cheese. And your pictures are making me drool. This is a must try indeed.
I need to make the savoury version soon too, I think!
I do think this is a great thing to serve with a royal wedding! I nearly didn’t get it done but soo glad I did. I will definitly make this again and again!
Yes it’s a recipe to remember and I think it’s pretty versatile too!
Absolutely beautiful photos.
The colour of your cake is gorgeous.
WOW! Yours looks great too!
I was wondering if other people put the tart dough all the way up the side of the springform, I think I might just go halfway next time seeing how yours turned out. Tart dough tends to be a bit of a stubborn personality, I have had about a 50-50 relationship with tart doughs! 🙂
I just got caught up on this one today!
http://acookingmizer.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/tourteau-de-chevre/
I remember not having enough dough to go all the way up the sides all the way around but nonetheless it was delicious!
This one has caught my eye, in particular as I have a big log of goat cheese that needs using ASAP. I’m guessing it would freeze well, what do you think? (obviously it would just be a guess, but I think of cheesecake as generally freezing well). Your cake looks gorgeous! I just got this book and am sorely tempted to join FFWD.