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Goat Cheese, Bacon, and Pistachio Truffles

Little heavenly bites of Goat Cheese, Bacon, and Pistachio Truffles paired with Sauvignon Blanc will elevate your next tailgating party.


Goat Cheese, Bacon, and Pistachio Truffles

Are you guys ready for The Big Football Game coming up next weekend? To be honest, I don’t care about the game when the Steelers aren’t in it, but that doesn’t stop me from watching it (mainly for the commercials) and from making football party food. Of course you can’t have a party without drinks, including wine. Wine with football food?, you ask. Why yes you can, and it makes perfect sense. I’m excited to be partnering with Gallo Family Vineyards to bring you wine pairing ideas for The Big Game. Typically at parties, there’s usually a meat and cheese tray or a cheese ball. Cheese + wine is a no brainer. Because everyone’s plates are piled high with food, I wanted small bites of cheese (mini cheese balls, if you will), which is what inspired these Goat Cheese, Bacon, and Pistachio Truffles to pair with Gallo Family Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc.


Gallo Family Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

Gallo Family Vineyards is a family-owned company who has been around for 80 years and still going strong. I first tasted their wine when I attended the Food and Wine Conference over the summer as they paired their wines with our Saturday night dinner. When I was asked to pair their wine for Game Day, I said yes because I was impressed with their product and hospitality, not only with the conference but also with the Sunday Supper family in general. They even celebrated Sunday Supper’s two year anniversary with us. Plus I got a letter in the mail, welcoming me to their family.


Goat Cheese, Bacon, and Pistachio Truffles

Goat cheese was the first cheese that popped into my mind because it’s one of my favorite cheeses. Named after the use of goat’s milk, it’s a bit tangy and almost like a savory cream cheese. I added bacon because you always need bacon at parties and rolled the truffles in pistachios that added a nice (and necessary) crunch. You can eat them as is or serve on crackers.


Goat Cheese, Bacon, and Pistachio Truffles

Now that I have my recipe, which wine pairs best with goat cheese? After some research (and a handy dandy wine pairing wheel Gallo Family mailed me), I learned that Sauvignon Blanc pairs best with soft creamy cheeses like goat cheese because the acidity in the wine matches the tangy acidity in the cheese. And I can’t go into much detail, but let’s say Pennsylvania really needs to update their alcohol laws. Fortunately, I tracked down my wine and got the party started. If you’re one of the lucky people to not live in PA, you can use Gallo Family Vineyard’s store locator.


Gallo Family Vineyards

To learn more about Gallo Family Vineyards, you can follow their social media accounts: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube


Goat Cheese, Bacon, and Pistachio Truffles

Goat Cheese, Bacon, and Pistachio Truffles

Yield: 18-20 mini cheese balls
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chill Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Little heavenly bites of Goat Cheese, Bacon, and Pistachio Truffles paired with Sauvignon Blanc will elevate your next tailgating party.

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces creamy goat cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup crumbled bacon (roughly 3 slices cooked bacon)
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped pistachios

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, beat together goat cheese, bacon, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Make roughly 1 inch balls with your hands or a cookie scoop.
  2. In a small bowl, add the pistachios. Roll each ball in the pistachios to coat then place on a plate. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
© Carla Cardello
 

If you liked these Goat Cheese, Bacon, and Pistachio Truffles, you may also like these recipes from me:

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Gallo Family Vineyards via Sunday Supper, LLC. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Gallo Family Vineyards.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Cheese, please!!! I am always one of the people standing guard over the cheese offering at a party, so these sound right up my alley! I love anything with goat cheese, and it sounds perfect to pair with the sauvignon blanc!
    Reply

  4. Carla! Love that you made mini cheese balls?! Hello? Brilliant! and I also love watching the commercials. . I worked in advertising for about 12 years so love watching how so many companies and advertisers shell out millions and millions of dollars for :30 or :60! :P
    Reply

  12. I have almost everything at home to make these but I don't think it would be safe to leave me alone with a serving of them. hmmm perhaps next time Braden and I do a cheese and meat lunch!
    Reply

  17. As an only child who never learned to share (this isn't really true, but that's the stereotype), I kind of love that I could have my OWN cheeseball and not have to share with anyone. Because these look wayyyyy too good to share. I don't pair pistachios with goat cheese enough, but it's a great combo.
    Reply

  18. I love these savory little truffles. The goat cheese, bacon and pistachios sounds like such a tasty combination, perfectly paired with the Sauvignon Blanc!
    Reply

  21. This is like having a gourmet snack food that takes only minutes to prepare. I love it and can't wait to try it. I'm not much for football, but I'll do the food and watch commercials and half-time. LOL
    Reply

  28. Hi Carla came across your recipe on Pinterest and I was wondering how long could I keep them in the fridge before serving.
    Reply

    • Thanks for pointing this out! I recently switched recipe card plugins, which didn't properly transfer all of the information. It makes about 18-20 mini cheese balls.
      Reply

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