Besh's Fried Goat Cheese and Frisée Salad

• Recipe by John Besh

Ingredients

1. One 11- to 12-ounce log of goat cheese, chilled
2. 1 teaspoon minced garlic
3. 3/4 teaspoon minced rosemary
4. Salt and freshly ground pepper
5. 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
6. 1 large egg, beaten
7. 1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs
8. 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
9. 1/2 teaspoon honey
10. 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon walnut oil
11. 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
12. 2 small plums, pitted and coarsely chopped
13. 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
14. 1 tablespoon water
15. 1 small head frisée, large leaves torn into bite-size pieces
16. 2 tablespoons minced oil-cured black olives
17. 6 thin slices country ham or prosciutto (about 4 ounces)
18. 1 tablespoon minced chives

Directions

1. Cut the goat cheese into 6 equal rounds and gently shape each piece into a 2 1/2-inch medallion. In a small bowl, combine 1/2 teaspoon of the garlic with 1/2 teaspoon of the rosemary and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle both sides of the goat cheese with the garlic mixture.
2. Put the flour, egg and bread crumbs into 3 separate shallow bowls. Dredge the goat-cheese medallions in the flour, then dip in the egg and coat with the bread crumbs. Transfer the breaded medallions onto a platter lined with wax paper and refrigerate until chilled.
3. In a small bowl, whisk 2 teaspoons of the vinegar with the honey until dissolved. Whisk in the walnut oil and season with salt and pepper.
4. In a small saucepan, combine the remaining 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon garlic and 1/4 teaspoon rosemary. Add the sugar and stir over moderately high heat until it dissolves. Add the plums and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer the plum mixture to a blender along with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and the water and blend until smooth. Return the plum sauce to the saucepan and keep warm.
5. In a medium nonstick skillet, heat the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil until shimmering. Add the goat-cheese medallions and cook over moderately high heat until golden and crisp, about 2 minutes per side.
6. In a large bowl, toss the frisée with the walnut vinaigrette and olives and season with salt and pepper. Spoon the plum sauce onto 6 plates. Set 1 goat-cheese medallion in the center of each plate and arrange a slice of the country ham alongside with a little of the frisée. Sprinkle with the chives and serve immediately.

Make Ahead

The goat-cheese medallions can be prepared through Step 2 and refrigerated, covered, for up to 2 days.