Snail Shell Spiral Dish (Print)

A colorful spiral of roasted vegetables layered with creamy goat cheese and fresh herbs.

# Ingredients:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 small eggplant, thinly sliced lengthwise
02 - 1 medium zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
03 - 1 red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
04 - 1 yellow squash, thinly sliced lengthwise
05 - 1 small carrot, peeled and thinly sliced lengthwise

→ Cheese & Dairy

06 - 3.5 oz goat cheese, softened
07 - 2 tbsp crème fraîche

→ Herbs & Seasonings

08 - 2 tbsp fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
09 - 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
10 - 2 tbsp olive oil
11 - 1/2 tsp sea salt
12 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish

13 - 1 tbsp pine nuts, lightly toasted
14 - Microgreens (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Set the oven to 400°F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
02 - Brush vegetable slices lightly with olive oil and season evenly with sea salt and black pepper.
03 - Arrange the slices in a single layer on the prepared tray and roast for 10 to 12 minutes until flexible but not browned. Allow to cool slightly.
04 - Combine goat cheese, crème fraîche, basil, and thyme in a small bowl and mix until smooth and well incorporated.
05 - Spread a thin layer of the cheese mixture on a large serving plate, forming a spiral from the center outward.
06 - Starting at the center, lay the roasted vegetable slices in an overlapping spiral over the cheese base, alternating colors for a decorative effect.
07 - Sprinkle lightly toasted pine nuts over the top and add microgreens if desired. Serve at room temperature.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks far more impressive than the effort it takes, which means you can serve something restaurant-worthy without stress
  • Every bite gives you a different vegetable combination thanks to the spiral arrangement, keeping things interesting from start to finish
  • The creamy goat cheese and herb mixture brings everything together with richness that feels indulgent but stays light and fresh
  • It's naturally vegetarian and can easily be adapted to any dietary preference with just one substitution
02 -
  • Don't skip the pre-roasting step. Raw vegetable slices will never bend properly and your spiral will look sad and broken. Those 12 minutes in the oven are non-negotiable
  • Room temperature is the secret. Serving this cold makes the goat cheese stiff and unpleasant; serving it warm makes the vegetables wilt. That sweet spot at room temperature is where all the flavors wake up
  • Slice all vegetables to roughly the same thickness using a mandoline if you have one. Uneven slices roast at different rates, leaving you with some that are hard and some that are mushy
  • Spread the cheese mixture thinly—thinner than you think you should. A thick blob of cheese breaks the visual flow and overwhelms the delicate vegetables
03 -
  • A mandoline is worth its weight in gold for this recipe—it creates those paper-thin, consistent slices that are actually enjoyable to eat and look uniform in your spiral
  • Toast your pine nuts just before serving to keep them crisp. Once they sit on the warm vegetables, they soften and lose that essential crunch
  • The cheese mixture can be made a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator. Just bring it to room temperature and give it a stir before spiraling onto your plate
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