MIXED GREENS SALAD TOPPED WITH PAN FRIED GOAT CHEESE

This salad is a summer must try! It has all the flavors – sweet, salty, nutty, a little tartness from the apple. Topped with pan fried goat cheese. I mean, come on! Doesn’t get much better than that. Try it, you will LOVE it!

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INGREDIENTS

SALAD

• 1-2 5.5 oz container of lettuce mix (I use a romaine lettuce blend)
• 2 carrots – shredded
• handful cherry tomatoes – quartered
• 1/2 sweet onion -thinly sliced
• 1 Granny Smith apple – thinly sliced
• Brianna’s blush wine vinaigrette 

TOPPINGS

  CANDIED WALNUTS

• 1 2.25 oz package of chopped walnuts
• 1 tbsp salted butter – melted
• 2 tsp granulated sugar
• sprinkle of cinnamon
• dash of salt

  BACON

• 4-5 slices of bacon

  GOAT CHEESE

• 4-5 tbsp avocado oil
• 2 4 oz pkg goat cheese
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cp all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 325 F.

Start by cleaning the lettuce & veggies. Chop everything up & put in a bowl – set aside.

In a medium pan, cook the bacon until its crisp, place on paper towel & pat to get rid of the excess grease. Break up into bacon bits – set aside.

Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small mixing bowl, combine the walnuts, melted butter, sugar & cinnamon. Once the walnuts are coated, pour them onto the lined baking sheet into a single layer. Place them in the oven for about 7-10 minutes.

For the pan fried goat cheese, keep the cheese in the refrigerator until right before you fry it (this will make it easier to work with). You’ll have three bowls, one will have the beaten egg, one with have the all purpose flour & the other will have the panko breadcrumbs. In a medium pan, over medium heat, add the avocado oil. Let the oil get nice & hot. While the oil is heating up, slice the goat cheese into 1/3 inch slices. When the oil is hot enough, begin by coating the goat cheese, on both sides, in the egg mixture, to the flour & then with the panko breadcrumbs. Place in the pan & repeat until all the cheese slices are coated & in the pan. Cook each piece about 3 minutes on each side – until they are golden brown. Place on a paper towel.

In a serving bowl, add the salad mixture, the bacon, the candied walnuts & top with a few pieces of the pan fried goat cheese. Drizzle with the blush wine vinaigrette, mix & enjoy!

TIPS

• I got one package of original goat cheese & one package of ranch goat cheese – whatever you like!
• If you’re not a fan of goat cheese, you could pan fry feta cheese instead.
• You could add a protein, like chicken, to the salad to make it a more filling meal.