Looks like a very odd hamburger!? 

Wilson and I have been very busy the last few days and sadly I haven't had time to cook :(  Having eaten huge meals out the last few nights, we were looking forward to staying in, enjoying a bottle of wine and a little something to nibble on.  This torta came together quickly from ingredients I had on hand and is very simple to assemble.  The hardest part about making a goat cheese torta is deciding what the various layers should be as there are so many delicious possibilities!

To accompany the torta, I put together a little antipasto plate.  Just a bit of balsamic grilled squash and fennel along with some peppadews and pickled okra.

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Savory Four Layer Goat Cheese Torta

11-oz log of goat cheese, room temperature and cut into quarters

Layer 1
Pine nuts

Layer 2
Sun dried tomatoes, chopped
Fresh basil leaves, chopped

Layer 3
Wine and lemon garlic*, chopped
Lemon zest, just a bit, less then ¼ of a lemon
S/P

Layer 4
Nicoise olives, chopped
Capers, chopped

Place a large piece of plastic wrap in the mold of your choice (I used a small glass bowl, 4" diameter and about 2 ½ - 3"  deep).  Spread a layer of pine nuts on the bottom of the mold. Take one quarter of the cheese and form it into a patty about the diameter of the mold, placing it on top of the pine nuts. Fold the plastic wrap over the cheese and use the bottom of a glass to tamper it into place.  Un-fold the plastic wrap and use the same technique to complete the remaining layers. After the last layer of goat cheese has been tampered into place, wrap it up in plastic wrap and refrigerate several hours, ideally over night, so the flavors can blend and the goat cheese can firm up.

At service, simply un-mold onto a serving plate and enjoy with crusty bread.

* Peel a head of garlic and place in a very small sauce pan along with a cup or two of dry white wine and the juice of a lemon.  Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook until the garlic is tender.  Be certain the garlic remains covered in liquid, adding water as necessary.