Warm Goat Cheese And Pancetta Salad With Red Wine Vinaigrette Recipes

WARM GOAT CHEESE AND PANCETTA SALAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine dried cherries with warm water to cover. Set aside to soften.
• In a medium skillet over medium-low heat, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and pancetta. Cook until fat is rendered, about 6 minutes. Drain pancetta on paper towels and discard all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the skillet.
• Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the skillet and increase heat to medium-high. Return pancetta to pan and cook until crispy. Add garlic and cook until just golden, about 1 minute. Reduce heat, add thyme and stir well. Add 15 good turns of black pepper. Add vinegar, return pan to heat, and deglaze pan, scraping up all the brown bits that cling to the bottom and sides of the pan. Simmer until vinegar reduces by half. Whisk in porcini oil. Season with salt.
• Put mixed greens in a salad bowl. Crumble the goat cheese over the greens. Quickly toss mixture with pancetta dressing so greens barely wilt. Drain cherries. Add cherries, toss again. Immediately transfer to plates and serve.

SALAD WITH WARM GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Slice the Montrachet into 12 (1/2-inch-thick) slices. (The easiest way to slice goat cheese is to use a length of dental floss.) Dip each slice into the beaten egg whites, then the bread crumbs, being sure the cheese is thoroughly coated. Place the slices on a rack and chill them for at least 15 minutes.
• For the dressing, place the vinegars, sugar, salt, pepper, and egg yolk in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and blend for 1 minute. With the motor running, slowly pour the olive oil through the feed tube until the vinaigrette is thickened. Season, to taste.
• Toss the salad greens with enough dressing to moisten, then divide them among 6 plates.
• Melt 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a saute pan over medium-high heat until just under smoking. Cook the goat cheese rounds quickly on both sides until browned on the outside but not melted inside. Top each salad with 2 warm rounds and serve.

WARM PANCETTA, GOAT CHEESE AND SPINACH SALAD

Steps:

• Put the spinach in a large bowl. Crumble the cheese over the spinach. Cook the pancetta in a medium skillet over medium heat until crispy, 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain the pancetta in a sieve set over a heatproof measuring cup, reserving the rendered fat. You will need 1/4 cup for the dressing. If necessary, add enough olive oil to make 1/4 cup. Pour the fat back into the pan and add the pancetta. When the pancetta is warm again, add the garlic and cook until light brown, about 30 seconds, stirring occasionally. Add the thyme and let it crackle in the fat for about 10 seconds. Add the vinegar, and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook for about 30 seconds to lower the acidity of the vinegar. You should see tiny drops of vinegar dispersed throughout the fat. Add the dried cranberries and stir. Pour the dressing over the spinach and cheese. Toss to coat the leaves evenly and melt the cheese a little. Serve immediately.

SPINACH SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, shallot, mustard, salt, and pepper. Gradually whisk in the oil to make a creamy dressing.
• Put all but a large handful of the spinach in a large bowl. Toss with most of the dressing. Add remaining spinach and continue tossing until well coated.
• Serve immediately topped with goat cheese and walnuts.

WARM GOAT CHEESE AND PANCETTA SALAD WITH RED WINE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Toss romaine and mixed greens in a large salad bowl and refrigerate until ready to use. Crumble goat cheese into a medium bowl filled with the bread crumbs, tossing to coat. Place in the freezer for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt butter on medium heat in a large skillet and toss bread cubes, salt and pepper to coat. Cook on medium-high heat for three to five minutes or until cubes have become golden brown croutons. Remove from heat.
• In a small bowl, whisk together garlic, mustard and wine. Add olive oil, a little at a time, until completely blended. Set aside.
• Cook the pancetta in the same pan on medium-high heat for 3 minutes or until edges brow. Remove to a paper towel. Add the coated goat cheese to the pan and shake the pan until cheese has been browned on all sides, about one to two minutes. Remove to a paper towel.
• Toss lettuce with the dressing, coating evenly. Add the croutons and pancetta and toss again. Add the goat cheese and serve immediately.