Description
Barefoot Contessa salad with warm goat cheese combines crisp greens and tangy cheese for a delightful French-inspired dish. Elegant flavors and simple ingredients make this recipe perfect for intimate gatherings or refreshing lunch moments.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 log (310g/10.9 oz) Montrachet cheese (plain or herbed)
- 100g (3.5 oz) white breadcrumbs (fresh)
- 2 egg whites (large)
- 1 egg yolk (large)
- 240 ml (8 fl oz) olive oil
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) cider vinegar
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) champagne vinegar
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) water
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml) kosher salt (or to taste)
- ¼ tsp (1.25 ml) black pepper (freshly ground)
- 1 pinch sugar
- Olive oil (for frying)
- Unsalted butter (for frying)
- Mixed salad leaves (enough for 6 servings)
Instructions
- Cheese Preparation: Use dental floss to slice Montrachet goat cheese into twelve uniform 1.5-centimeter rounds with precision.
- Breading Process: Dip cheese rounds in egg whites, then coat thoroughly with breadcrumbs, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Chilling Stage: Refrigerate breaded cheese rounds for 15 minutes to stabilize the coating and enhance crispness.
- Vinaigrette Creation: Blend red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, sugar, kosher salt, black pepper, and egg yolk in a food processor until smooth.
- Emulsification: Gradually stream extra virgin olive oil into the running processor to develop a rich, cohesive vinaigrette with balanced consistency.
- Salad Assembly: Toss mixed greens with vinaigrette, distributing dressing lightly to prevent oversaturation, and plate evenly across six serving dishes.
- Cheese Searing: Heat olive oil and butter in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat, quickly browning breaded cheese rounds for 30-45 seconds per side to achieve a crispy golden exterior and creamy center.
- Final Presentation: Top each salad with two warm goat cheese rounds immediately before serving to maintain optimal temperature and textural contrast.
Notes
- Cheese Cutting Technique: Use unflavored dental floss for super clean, precise goat cheese rounds without crumbling or uneven edges.
- Chilling Breaded Cheese: Refrigerate breaded cheese rounds for at least 15 minutes to prevent cheese melting and help breadcrumbs adhere perfectly during cooking.
- Vinaigrette Emulsification: Stream olive oil slowly while blending to create a smooth, stable vinaigrette that won’t separate or become oily.
- Serving Temperature Matters: Serve warm goat cheese rounds immediately after searing to maintain crispy exterior and creamy interior, ensuring optimal texture and flavor experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 435
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 41 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg