Green Salad With Warm Goat Cheese (Salade de Chèvre Chaud)

Updated Oct. 12, 2023

Green Salad With Warm Goat Cheese (Salade de Chèvre Chaud)
Chris Simpson for The New York Times. Food stylist: Maggie Ruggiero. Prop stylist: Suzie Myers.
Total Time
20 minutes
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Rating
5(621)
Comments
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Some dishes are showstoppers, while others are ordinary, unfussy and exactly what you want on a slow evening when nothing need be achieved or sought after. This is a simple salad, with the smallest exalting touch: rounds of goat cheese coated in beaten egg and the sheerest veil of bread crumbs, then gently pressed in a hot pan until dark gold. They come served over a careless toss of greens — you can add fresh herbs like dill or parsley for featheriness and a bright lift — in a dressing that requires no more than oil, vinegar, mustard and a single shallot. Eat immediately, when the greens are fresh and cool, and the cheese is still warm, faintly crackly on the outside and oozy within.

Featured in: A Meal in France Showed Me the Brilliance of Simplicity

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Ingredients

Yield:4 to 6 servings

    For the Goat Cheese

    • 1cup fine plain bread crumbs (see Tip)
    • ½teaspoon fine sea salt
    • ¼teaspoon black pepper
    • 1large egg
    • 1(8-ounce) log fresh goat cheese, chilled
    • Extra-virgin olive oil, for pan-frying

    For the Salad

    • 2tablespoons red wine vinegar
    • 2teaspoons Dijon mustard
    • 1small shallot, minced
    • Salt and black pepper
    • cup extra-virgin olive oil
    • 10 to 12ounces crisp salad greens
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

479 calories; 42 grams fat; 10 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 25 grams monounsaturated fat; 4 grams polyunsaturated fat; 16 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 2 grams sugars; 11 grams protein; 376 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Prepare the goat cheese: In a shallow dish, mix the bread crumbs, salt and pepper. Crack the egg into a separate bowl and beat with a fork. Using unflavored dental floss or a sharp knife, cut the goat cheese into ½-inch-thick rounds.

  2. Step 2

    Dip each round in the beaten egg, then dredge in the crumbs until completely covered, and transfer to a plate. Refrigerate until very firm, at least 5 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    Meanwhile, make the salad: In a large bowl, whisk the vinegar, mustard and shallot with a pinch each of salt and pepper. While whisking, add the oil in a slow, thin stream and mix until emulsified. Add the greens and gently toss to coat. Season with more salt and pepper as needed. Divide among serving plates.

  4. Step 4

    Fry the goat cheese: Heat a thin layer of oil in a large nonstick or well-seasoned cast-iron skillet over medium. Add the breaded goat cheese rounds and cook, turning once, until dark gold, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towels to drain, then set over the salad. Serve immediately.

Tip
  • Add a pinch of minced fresh thyme leaves to the crumb mixture to give the breading a warm, piney contour.

Ratings

5 out of 5
621 user ratings
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Comments

One of my favorite salads for years and I always order it when I find it in a resto. However, a few years ago I dropped the breading and frying of the chevre. Instead, I simply heat part of a log of goat cheese in the oven or microwave with olive oil and fines herbs. Then I plunk the warm soft chevre on my dressed greens and eat with crusty bread. For me, it's the same or even better and reminds me of my years living in Paris.

A recipe that comes with such an interesting and well written background story behind it makes it all the more enticing. I'm looking forward to making this soon. The dental floss is a practical touch as a stand in for the wire often used at cheese counters, and I laughed at "unflavored" as I entertained (and subsequently dismissed) the idea of using mint flavored floss!

Sherry vinegar is much better than red wine vinegar in this recipe

lol way too much bread crumbs only used about 1/4-1/2 cup at most..

Add honey to dressing!

This is a pretty boring salad except for the cool fried goat cheese suggestion. I wish they had suggested more ingredients. I went with adding avocado and Kalamata olives and it wasn't bad. The goat cheese thing was delicious, if a bit intense.

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