Apricots With Goats Cheese & Feta

Apricots With Goats Cheese & Feta:

As soon as I saw apricots back on the shelves at my local green grocer, it screamed summer party appetiser!!

I knew it was time to bring out this colourful finger food that captures the heart of summer.

There’s something irresistible about these little golden gems.

They are fresh, juicy, and bursting with the kind of flavour that just begs to be paired with creamy, tangy cheeses.

So, let’s talk about this recipe that combines the lushness of apricots with the richness of goat cheese and feta.

Try this for a summer party appetiser idea your party guests will love.

Apricots and Cheese: A Perfect Summer Pairing

Fresh apricots halves filled with a mixture of goats cheese and feta.

These cheeses add depth and a bit of tang that complement the sweet, sun-kissed flavour of apricots.

The result? A perfectly balanced bite that’s creamy, rich, and full of flavour—exactly what we all want in a summer party appetiser.

It doesn’t get simpler than this- cut the apricots in half, blend cheeses, honey & dill, pipe the mixture back into the apricots & garnish- Voila!!

The Finishing Touches: Honey, Herbs, and Nuts

I add just a drizzle of honey, which enhances the natural sweetness of the apricots.

It also brings out the subtle notes of the cheese & adds a gloss to your final product.

For the garnishing, I love using fresh dill and basil—each herb offering its own unique fragrance and of course, both add colour.

Finally, a sprinkle of crushed pistachios and walnuts.

Why You’ll Love This Appetiser:

1. Simple and Fresh: Using fresh fruit and cheese keeps this appetiser light and refreshing, perfect for warm weather.
2. Easy to Make: You can put these together in mere minutes—ideal for those last-minute gatherings.
3. Elevated Presentation: These bites are colourful, inviting, and sophisticated enough to impress at any event.

How to Serve:

Arrange your apricot bites on a beautiful serving platter or grazing board, and watch them disappear!

These make an elegant addition to any grazing board or as a stand-alone appetiser.

They have wow factor & are more than suitable for a cocktail party. What’s more, they don’t take alot of time to prepare.

Make This Your Summer Go-To!

This apricot and cheese summer party appetiser is everything I love in a summer recipe: fresh, vibrant, creamy and full of flavour.

Add it to your party menu this season—you won’t regret it!

And who knows, it may just quickly become a new favourite that you’ll eagerly await every year when apricots are back in season. Enjoy!

Apricots With Goats Cheese & Feta

(Serves 12 Prep 20 Mins)

You Will Need:

• Apricots: Try to choose orange apricots, which may sound silly, but they also come in yellow, which are not yet ripe and lack flavour. Like with most fruit, the riper they are, the more flavour but you want the apricots to be firm and ripe so they still hold their shape.

• Goats cheese: Goats cheese possesses a unique flavour and some find it polarising. I agree, when on its own it can be too much but when blended with feta and honey & herbs & served with apricots, it is delicious.

• Danish Feta: Danish feta has a smooth creamy texture, a slight tang and blends beautifully with Goats cheese. You can substitute with Greek yoghurt if you want a lighter filling.

• Fresh Dill: I love dill with everything, but it is a strong flavour that doesn’t please everyone. You can eliminate the dill and replace it with, thyme, basil, parsley or chives. You need a herbaceous addition to break up the richness of the cheeses.

• Honey: A small amount of raw honey adds a touch more sweetness without overwhelming the natural sweetness of the apricots themselves.

• Fresh Garlic Cloves: You don’t need alot of garlic, but a clove of garlic can add depth of flavour and balance all the other flavours, I use 2.

• Walnuts: Purely for garnish, walnuts add crunch and a contrast in texture. If you don’t like walnuts, use toasted pine nuts or pecans.

• Pistachios: I love the green colour of pistachios and again these add a crunch element to the garnish.

• Fresh Dill: Use a small sprig for garnish. Adding a few different garnishes really can elevate the dish to next level.

• Basil Leaves: I have used a basil leaf to garnish each apricot but if you are not using basil in the cheese filling, use what ever herb you are adding.

Instructions:

1. Begin by carefully slicing each apricot in half, ensuring clean cuts for a neat presentation. Gently remove the stone from each half, creating a small, hollow for our creamy, cheese filling.
2. In a small food processor, combine the goats cheese, Danish feta, 2 teaspoons of honey, 1-2 cloves of fresh garlic, a splash of garlic-infused olive oil, and 1 tablespoon of fresh, fragrant dill. Pulse the mixture a few times until it becomes a smooth, velvety cream. The consistency should be creamy enough to pipe yet thick enough to hold its shape on the apricots.
3. Prepare your piping bag by fitting it with a decorative tip to add a touch of class to your presentation. Stand the bag upright in a tall glass with the piping tip facing down—this trick makes filling the bag much easier and helps keep everything tidy. Fold the top of the bag down over the glass to create a “cuff,” then spoon in the cheese mixture carefully. Once the bag is filled, unfold the cuff, twist the top to secure, and you’re ready to pipe.
4. Pipe the cheese filling into each apricot half, aiming to create a decorative swirl that sits beautifully in the centre of the fruit. The contrast between the creamy cheese and the vibrant apricot is already visually enticing!
5. For the finishing touches, sprinkle each apricot half with a pinch of finely chopped walnuts and pistachios, adding a hint of earthiness. Then, garnish with a small sprig of fresh dill and a fresh basil leaf, bringing in pops of green that enhance the presentation and also the flavour.
6. Lastly, drizzle a little honey mixed with a teaspoon of water over the top of your apricots giving them a beautiful gloss.
7. Arrange your summer party appetiser on a serving platter or incorporate them into a larger grazing board for a fun, colourful display.

Serve & Enjoy!

Helpful Hints

• Stone Fruit offer rich vibrant colours and hence make great summer party appetiser bites.

• Choose orange apricots over yellow as the darker the colour of the fruit, the sweeter and juicer they are.

• If you prefer a lighter filling, you can substitute the feta with Greek yoghurt.

• Danish feta is preferred as it has a smooth & creamy texture as opposed to a grainy texture as in Greek Feta.

• Using a decorative piping tip is not essential but can really elevate your presentation, so I do recommend it.

Apricots With Goats Cheese & Feta

(Serves 12 Prep 20 Mins)

Ingredients

• 6 Apricots
• 110 g Goats Cheese
• 100 g Danish Feta
• 1 tsp Raw Honey
• 1 Tbsp Fresh Dill
• 2 Cloves of Garlic
• 1 Tbsp Garlic Olive Oil
• Basil leaves (garnish)
• Dill (garnish)
• Walnuts (garnish)
• Pistachios (garnish)
• 2 tsp Honey(drizzle)
• 1 tsp Water

Method

1. Start by slicing each apricot in half, then gently remove the stone, leaving a perfect little hollow in the centre for the creamy filling.
2. In a small food processor, combine the Goats cheese, Danish feta, 2 teaspoons of honey, 1-2 cloves of fresh garlic, a glug of garlic olive oil and 1 tablespoon of fresh dill. Give it a few pulses until everything is blended into a smooth, creamy mixture.
3. Next, grab a piping bag and place a decorative piping tip inside. Stand the bag in a tall glass with the tip facing down; this little trick makes filling the bag so much easier! Fold the top of the bag down over the glass, creating a “cuff” to keep things tidy as you spoon in the cheese mixture. Once filled, unfold the bag, twist the top to seal it, and you’re ready to go.
4. Pipe the cheese filling right into the centre of each apricot half, creating a decorative swirl.
5. To finish, sprinkle each filled apricot with a sprinkle of finely chopped walnuts and pistachios for that crunch factor, and add a small sprig of fresh dill along with a fresh basil leaf for another pop of colour and flavour.
6. Arrange your filled apricot halves on a serving platter or on a grazing board.

Serve & Enjoy!

Wine Pairing Suggestions:

Sauvignon Blanc: A bright, zesty Sauvignon Blanc brings out the fresh tang of the goat cheese and complements the sweetness of the apricots.

Look for a bottle with notes of citrus and green herbs, which will harmonise beautifully with the dill and basil garnish. New Zealand or Loire Valley Sauvignon Blancs make excellent choices.

Viognier: This aromatic white wine has lush, stone fruit flavours that echo the apricots while adding a touch of floral elegance.

A Viognier’s creamy texture and mild acidity won’t overpower the cheese, and its subtle honeysuckle notes play nicely with the honey drizzle on top.

Riesling (Dry or off-dry): A dry or off-dry Riesling, especially from Germany or Alsace, pairs wonderfully with the sweet-tart apricots and rich cheese filling.

Its high acidity and minerality cut through the creaminess, while any natural fruitiness enhances the apricot’s flavour.

Opt for one with hints of green apple or peach to mirror the fresh fruit element.

Prosecco: For a sparkling option, a crisp Prosecco provides refreshing bubbles and lightness.

Its gentle fruit flavours and hint of sweetness match the honey and apricots without overwhelming them.

A Brut or Extra Dry style would add a lovely, celebratory touch to this appetiser.

Chenin Blanc: Chenin Blanc, especially from the Loire Valley, brings a balanced acidity and light fruitiness that enhances both the cheese and apricots.

It has a touch of sweetness, along with notes of apple and pear, making it a delightful partner to the creamy filling and nutty garnish.