goat cheese salad

Remember the weekend in Todi when I tried to use only ingredients from our garden? Well, I failed to mention that I did make one big addition to the menu: the fruit of our visit to the goat farm outside of Orvieto.

Besides just eating way too much cheese, straight out of the pretty packaging, I also managed to use it in this salad. Which did indeed come from the garden. (And provided much needed roughage for our lactose heavy blow out.)

I picked the very last of the lettuces, a sturdy endive variety that managed to survive (and thrive) through the first cold nights of October. And then there were also the first tender leaves of cavolo nero which I love raw (see this salad I made last year).

Besides huge, fluffy white hunks of goat cheese, I also raided the pantry and found pine nuts and raisins.

The secret ingredient though, came straight from my herb garden: chives. I believe chives are one of the great under used salad greens. Whenever possible I use a huge bunch in any salad I make. And by huge bunch I mean at least a half of a cup chopped. Everyone LOVES my salads. Even people who say they don’t like salad love mine. And I am 100% convinced it’s the chives.

Of course, creamy fresh goat cheese straight from the farm doesn’t hurt either.




Goat Cheese Salad
(serves four)

5 cups lettuce (I used endive, but romaine will do fine), washed and chopped
3 cups chopped cavolo nero or kale, washed and chopped
1 bunch chives (1/2 cup finely chopped)
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
1 cup crumbled fresh chevre

Dressing
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon high quality balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
2 tsp dijon mustard
salt & pepper

Place salad ingredients in bowl.

Whisk mustard and honey in a small bowl till blended. Slowly drizzle in olive oil, stirring to emulsify. Add salt and pepper, then add vinegars, stirring.

Pour dressing over salad, toss and serve.