Sesame Thyme Crusted Goat Cheese With Arugula Salad With Warm Shiitake Tomato Vinaigrette Recipes

PLEASANT RIDGE RESERVE AND WARM ARUGULA SALAD

Steps:

• For the vinaigrette, reduce the cider in a sauté pan over medium heat until 2/3 cup remains. Cool. Place the vinegar, mustard, shallots, and chervil in a bowl. Mix well. Drizzle the oils in slowly. After the dressing has emulsified, add the cider. Season and reserve.
• For the crispy beets, fry the sliced beets until crisp. Drain on paper towels, and salt lightly.
• For the salad, combine the salad ingredients with half of the vinaigrette in a large metal mixing bowl. Place the bowl over a medium flame. Quickly toss the salad to wilt the greens slightly. Transfer to six plates. Top with the crispy beets. Drizzle the remaining vinaigrette around the salad.
• Recipe by Chef Todd Downs

SALAD WITH WARM GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Slice the Montrachet into 12 (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 saute 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.

ARUGULA SALAD WITH PEACHES, GOAT CHEESE AND BASIL

Steps:

• In a small sauté pan, toast the pine nuts over medium heat, tossing often, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• In a small liquid measuring cup or bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper.
• Place the arugula in a large salad bowl. Pour just enough dressing over the greens to moisten, and toss to coat. Add the peaches, basil, goat cheese and toasted pine nuts and toss to coat. Add more goat cheese and dressing if desired. Toss gently and serve immediately.