Description
Goat Cheese & Berry Summer Salad features fresh berries, sesame-crusted goat cheese, pecans, and Burnt Honey Vinaigrette. A beautiful summer salad that’s perfect as a light meal or with roasted chicken.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 5 ounces local spring salad mix or your favourite mixed greens
- 1 cup strawberries, hulled and halved
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup blackberries
- 4 ounces soft goat cheese
- 2 tablespoons black sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoons white sesame seeds
- 1/2 cup raw pecan halves
- Freshly cracked black pepper
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed citrus juice (use one or a combination of lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, or blood orange)
- 1 teaspoon finely grated citrus zest
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the vinaigrette: Add the honey to a small saucepan over medium heat. Allow it to bubble gently without stirring. Continue cooking until it reaches a deep amber colour and develops a rich caramel aroma, about 4 to 6 minutes. Watch carefully to prevent burning – TOO much.
- Deglaze: Remove the pan from the heat. Keeping your face well back as you add the citrus, slowly whisk in your citrus juice of choice. The honey will bubble vigorously. Stir until smooth. Cool for 5 minutes.
- Finish the Vinaigrette: Whisk in the Dijon mustard, citrus zest, salt, and pepper. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking until emulsified. Taste and adjust acidity or seasoning as needed.
- Prepare the Goat Cheese: Divide the goat cheese into 8 equal portions. Gently roll each into a ball about the size of a large walnut. Combine the black and white sesame seeds on a small plate. Roll each goat cheese ball until evenly coated. Refrigerate while preparing the salad.
- Toast the Pecans (Optional): Place pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat. Toast for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant. Cool completely.
- Assemble the Salad: Arrange the salad greens on a large serving platter. Scatter the strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries over the greens. Tuck in the sesame-crusted goat cheese balls. Sprinkle with the pecans.
- Finish: Drizzle generously with Burnt Honey Vinaigrette. Finish with freshly cracked black pepper. Top with sliced roasted chicken if serving as a main course.
Notes
Don’t limit yourself to this fruit combination. Goat cheese is a terrific paring with any fruit; peaches, melon, litchi, plums and grapes would all work well here.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Canadian
