Salad with Warm Goat Cheese

Excellent salad for the appetizer or light lunch with friends
Recipe by Ina Garten

                             

Ingredients:

1 (11-ounce) log of plain or herbed Montrachet

2 extra-large egg whites beaten with 1 tablespoon water

Fresh white bread crumbs

For the Dressing:

2 tablespoons good cider vinegar

2 tablespoons good champagne vinegar

Pinch sugar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 extra-large egg yolk

1 cup good olive oil

Enough mixed salad greens for 6

Enough olive oil and unsalted butter for frying  

Preparation:

Slice the Montrachet into twelve 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 sauté 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.