Baked Goat Cheese Salad

Servings: 4

Total time: 60 minutes

INGREDIENTS

Baked goat cheese:

300 g log of goat cheese (cold), cut into 8 even slices and rolled into balls

1/4 cup all purpose flour

1 egg

1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

1 tsp Diamond Crystal Salt Co.^™ Kosher Salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp dried oregano

For the dressing:

2 tbsp grainy or Dijon mustard

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

6 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp liquid honey

1 tsp Diamond Crystal Salt Co.^™ Kosher Salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 garlic clove, pressed or minced

1/2 tsp chili flakes

For the salad:

1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa

1/4 red onion, sliced thin

1/4 cup sliced strawberries

1/4 cup sliced red pepper

1 cup blueberries

1/3 cup sunflower seeds

3 cups arugula

1 cup chopped cucumber

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

DIRECTIONS

For the baked goat cheese:

Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Slice the goat cheese log into 8 pieces and roll into balls.

Set aside three bowls - in one bowl add the flour; in another bowl crack the egg and whisk well; and, in a third bowl stir together the panko breadcrumbs, Kosher salt, pepper, garlic powder and dried oregano.

To coat each goat cheese ball, roll in the flour, dip the ball into the whisked egg and then finally into the panko mixture, rolling to make sure all sides are coated.

Put goat cheese balls on a plate and freeze for at least 30 minutes while you prep the salad dressing and salad ingredients.

Preheat the oven to 425F. Once the oven is preheated and the goat cheese has been in the freezer for 30 minutes, add the goat cheese balls to the parchment lined baking sheet. Spray the goat cheese balls with cooking spray and cook 8-12 minutes on the middle rack until just started to turn golden brown (be careful not to overcook or the goat cheese balls will start to melt).

Remove immediately from the baking sheet to a plate or cutting board to cool and sprinkle with Diamond Crystal Kosher salt (if you leave on the baking sheet they can melt).

For the dressing:

Make the dressing by combining the ingredients in a bowl and whisk OR add to a jar with a lid and shake well.

For the salad:

To assemble the salad, in a large bowl or on a large platter, layer the ingredients side by side: cooked quinoa, red onion, strawberries, red peppers, blueberries, sunflower seeds, arugula, cucumbers and basil. Drizzle with the dressing and toss. Serve topped with baked goat cheese balls.

Notes:

Make sure the goat cheese is cold when slicing and then rolling into balls; this makes it a much easier process.

You can switch up the flavor of the goat cheese; instead of using plain goat cheese to make the balls you could try a honey goat cheese.

Want to prep some of this recipe ahead of time? You can prepare most of the salad ingredients and store in the fridge until ready to assemble. Same for the dressing.

These goat cheese balls also make a lovely appetizer! They could be served on some simple salad greens with a sprinkle of Diamond Crystal Kosher salt and drizzle of honey.