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Goat Cheese Salad
From Anne Willan: From My Château
Kitchen
Medium
head of lettuce, such as Boston or frisee
Bunch
of watercress or arugula
8 slices white bread
4 round fresh goat cheeses or 1 (6-ounce) log
Dressing:
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 cup olive oil
Heat
the oven to 400°F. Wash and dry the lettuce, tearing into pieces.
Discard the stems from the watercress or arugula, wash and dry the
leaves, and mix them in a salad bowl with the lettuce. Chill the
greens to crisp the leaves.
Lightly
toast the bread, and using a pastry cutter or glass, cut out 8 rounds
the same size as the cheese. If you cut the rounds of bread larger
than the cheese, their edges will scorch. |
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Put
the rounds on a baking sheet. Cut each cheese in half crosswise
to make 2 disks and set them on the rounds of toast. (If using a
log of goat cheese, cut it into 8 individual rounds.) Bake until
the cheese is bubbling and starting to brown, 8 to 12 minutes.
Meanwhile,
prepare the dressing:
In a small bowl, whisk the vinegar and mustard with salt and pepper
until mixed. Gradually whisk in the oil, adding it slowly at first
so that the dressing emulsifies and thickens slightly, then more
quickly in a steady stream.
Taste and adjust the seasoning; it should
be rather piquant. Add the dressing to the salad and toss well.
Pile the salad greens on 8 individual plates, set a warm cheese
toast on top and serve immediately.
Yields
8 first-course servings.
(Updated: 10/22/08 SN) |
