chèvre

American  

[shev-ruh, shev, she-vr^uh] / ˈʃɛv rə, ʃɛv, ˈʃɛ vrə /

Also chevret

noun

1. any cheese made from goat's milk.

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chèvre British  

/ ˈʃɛvrə /

noun

1. any cheese made from goats' milk

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Etymology

Origin of chèvre

< French chèvre goat. See chevon

Explanation

Chevre is a fancy way to say "goat cheese." There are many different varieties of chevre, but the most common type is soft enough to crumble on a salad or spread on a slice of baguette. In the U.S., fresh chevre usually comes in a small log and tastes mildly tangy. There are a lot of other kinds of chevre, including hard cheeses and aged versions with stronger flavors. What makes them all chevre is the fact that they're made using goat milk — in fact, in French chèvre means "goat," and the cheese itself is called fromage de chèvre.

Example Sentences

Dine-in: The Thanksgiving menu includes poached pear salad, smoked chèvre, apple-brined turkey breast, beef tenderloin, pumpkin pie and more.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 15, 2023

Plus, it will be fun to throw company for a loop when you mention you are pairing chèvre with pecorino—and why no, this is NOT a cheese-on-cheese pairing!

From Salon • Jun. 3, 2023

His chèvre cheesecake, tiled in sliced plums, and passion fruit pie, garnished with pepper-spiked meringue wands, are equal to the class acts that precede them.

From Washington Post • Nov. 21, 2022

But among the classics she revisits is an extremely compelling cheesecake — made from chèvre, it’s tart, a little salty and a wonderful backdrop for strawberries cloaked with balsamic syrup.

From New York Times • Jun. 14, 2021

La chèvre sans cornes—the goat without horns—that means an unblemished child less than three years old.

From O. Henry Memorial Award Prize Stories of 1921 by Marshall, Edison