Fennel Cherry Goats Cheese Salad With Lentils Recipes

FENNEL, CHERRY & GOAT'S CHEESE SALAD WITH LENTILS

Steps:

• Heat a dry frying pan over a low-medium heat. Add the walnuts and cook for 3 mins, stirring frequently, until they smell toasty and the skins are a deep golden brown. Set aside to cool.
• Heat the lentils following pack instructions, then tip into a large bowl and loosen with a fork. Tip the fennel and cherries on top.
• Whisk together the vinegar, oil, mustard, honey and tarragon, then season. Fold the dressing through the lentils, fennel and cherries, then scoop the salad onto a platter. Scatter with the cheese, walnuts and the reserved fennel fronds.

WARM LENTIL SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• In a medium pot, combine lentils, onion, two of the garlic cloves and the bay leaf with 6 cups water. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Add salt to taste, cover, reduce heat to low and simmer 25 minutes, until lentils are cooked through but still have some texture (they should not be mushy). Taste and adjust salt. Using tongs, remove onion and bay leaf. (You may cook lentils up to four days ahead and store in the refrigerator. Bring back to a simmer and proceed with recipe.)
• In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix together vinegar, remaining garlic, salt to taste and olive oil. Set aside.
• Place a strainer over a bowl and carefully drain lentils, reserving 1/4 cup of the broth. Return lentils to the pot. Whisk reserved broth into the dressing, then stir dressing into lentils. Add goat cheese and stir until it has melted into the lentils. Season to taste with pepper. Stir in herbs.
• Line a platter, salad plates or wide bowls with arugula. Top arugula with the lentils. Serve warm.

FENNEL SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Whisk together the oil, vinegar and salt and pepper in a small bowl. Combine the arugula and sliced fennel in a medium salad bowl. Pour the vinaigrette over and toss to thoroughly coat. Season with salt and pepper. Scatter the fennel fronds, cheese and pine nuts on top and serve.

LENTIL, TOMATO AND GOAT CHEESE SALAD

Steps:

• Cook lentils in partially covered pot until they are tender but not mushy, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Slice onion into rings about 1/4-inch thick. Prepare stove-top grill, and grill onion, turning once or twice.
• Wash, trim and cut white part from leek; mince white part.
• Wash, trim and chop fennel bulb.
• Heat olive oil in small nonstick skillet, and saute leek and fennel until fennel softens.
• Wash, trim and slice tomatoes into 1/4-inch thick slices, and place in bowl with 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar, mixing to coat well.
• Mince garlic.
• When lentils are cooked, drain and rinse. Stir in leek, fennel, garlic and remaining balsamic vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.
• Slice cheese, and heat at 400 degrees in toaster oven for a couple of minutes, until it begins to bubble.
• Wash, dry and chop basil; stir 2 tablespoons into lentils.
• Arrange lentil mixture on serving platter. Top with tomatoes. Place grilled onions in center, place cheese rounds on top of tomatoes, sprinkle with basil.

BEET AND FENNEL SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Slice off the beet leaves close to the tip of the beet. Discard the beet greens. Scrub the beets thoroughly, and then loosely wrap each one in foil.
• Transfer the wrapped beets to baking sheet lined with Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil. Roast for 50-60 minutes. Check the beets every 20 minutes or so. If they are starting to look dry or are scorching on the bottoms, dribble a tablespoon of water over the beets before rewrapping. Beets are done when a fork or skewer slides easily to the middle of the beet.
• Cool the beets until they can comfortably be handled. Hold one of the beets in a paper towel and use the edges to rub the skin away. The skin should peel away easily; if it doesn't, the beets likely need to cook for a little longer. Slice the peeled beets into wedges.
• Combine the beet wedges, mache, goat cheese, avocado, and shaved fennel on a large serving platter and drizzle with basil vinaigrette. Sprinkle the pepitas on top and serve immediately.

BAKED LENTILS WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Place the lentils in a large saucepan or soup pot with the halved onion, the garlic cloves, and the bay leaf. Add enough water to cover by 1 1/2 inches. Bring to a simmer, add 1 teaspoon salt, cover and simmer 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender all the way through but intact. Set a strainer over a bowl and drain the lentils. Remove the onion halves, bay leaf, and garlic and discard. Return the liquid to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce to 1/2 cup.
• Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Whisk together the vinegar, garlic, Dijon mustard, olive oil, and cooking liquid from the lentils. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Toss with the lentils. Stir in the parsley (or parsley and chives), place in a baking dish and top with the rounds of goat cheese. Heat through for 15 minutes, until the goat cheese has softened, and serve.