Fall

An Autumn Salad of Figs and Toasted GoatĀ Cheese

October  4, 2011
0
0 Ratings
  • Serves 2 as an entreĆ©, 4 as a side salad
Author Notes

Figs are still looking good in our Farmers Markets, but there is a cool hint of fall in the air that makes me want a warm hit to a salad of this kind. Ina Garten taught me, through her cookbooks, to toast the goat cheese, and I believe it was she who suggested to use dental floss to cut the slices cleanly. —Lizthechef

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 8 1/2 inch slices of a plain goat cheese loge
  • 1 organic egg white, slightly beaten
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup walnut pieces
  • 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar, best quality
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 3 tablespoons virgin olive oil, divided use
  • 1 teaspoon organic honey
  • kosher salt and ground black pepper
  • 4 cups organic "baby" or field greens
  • 8 organic figs
  • 1 tablespoon organic, unsalted butter
Directions
  1. Coat each slice of cheese with some of the egg white mixture. Roll each one in the panko crumbs until coated. Set coated cheese slices aside on a rack and chill in the coldest part of your fridge while you prepare the rest of the salad.
  2. Heat a small skillet and add the walnuts. Cook until your nose reminds you to remove the skillet from the heat before they scorch. Set aside.
  3. Using a good-sized salad bowl, prepare your vinaigrette: add the vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper. Whisk to combine. Add the honey and 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Whisk together.
  4. Add the greens to the vinaigrette and toss. Stem and halve the figs. Add figs and toasted walnuts. Toss gently. Set aside.
  5. Using a medium-sized skillet, heat the butter and remaining tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. You want this process to occur quickly in order not to melt the goat cheese! Add the goat cheese slices and cook until lightly browned on both sides.
  6. Serve the chilled greens on two plates. Top each portion with 2-4 slices of the toasted goat cheese, as desired.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • lapadia
    lapadia
  • Bevi
    Bevi
  • MyCommunalTable
    MyCommunalTable
  • hardlikearmour
    hardlikearmour
  • TheWimpyVegetarian
    TheWimpyVegetarian

13 Reviews

lapadia November 10, 2011
This sounds wonderful!! Great photo, too :)
 
Bevi October 7, 2011
Lovely!
 
Lizthechef October 7, 2011
Thank you, Bevi!
 
MyCommunalTable October 5, 2011
Love goat cheese, love figs, I know I love this salad.
 
Lizthechef October 5, 2011
Try it and let me know - you always add a special twist that "finishes" a recipe.
 
hardlikearmour October 5, 2011
Yum and yum! Love figs (especially the Adriatic ones - green skin with raspberry jam looking innards) and love, love, love goat cheese.
 
Lizthechef October 5, 2011
Thanks for the "yum", hla!
 
TheWimpyVegetarian October 5, 2011
Yes!!! Wonderful fall salad! And great photo!
 
Lizthechef October 5, 2011
Pretty soon comes that long-overdue tutorial on food-shooting ;) Thanks, Susan!
 
mrslarkin October 4, 2011
Liz that is gorgeous! My favorite fruit, too.
 
Lizthechef October 5, 2011
Thanks, Liz!
 
dymnyno October 4, 2011
This is one of my favorite salads. Nice pic!
 
Lizthechef October 5, 2011
Thanks, Mare, and hope the grapes are ripening...