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Greens with Chèvre Dressing
© Ditte Isager

Greens with Chèvre Dressing

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  • ACTIVE:
  • TOTAL TIME: 20 MIN
  • SERVINGS: 4 to 6
  • •FAST
  • •HEALTHY
  • •VEGETARIAN

The combination of goat cheese (chèvre) and walnut oil in this salad pays homage to the south of France. But the transformation into a creamy ranch-style dressing? Pure American.

  1. 3/4 cup walnut halves
  2. 1 small garlic clove, smashed
  3. Kosher salt
  4. 3 ounces creamy fresh goat cheese (chèvre), at room temperature, mixed with 1 tablespoon of water
  5. 1 1/2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
  6. 1 1/2 teaspoons water
  7. 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  8. 1 tablespoon walnut oil
  9. 1/2 teaspoon chopped thyme leaves
  10. Freshly ground pepper
  11. 2 heads of Belgian endive, cored and leaves halved lengthwise
  12. One 4-ounce head of frisée, torn into bite-size pieces
  13. 1 cup baby arugula
  14. 1 Granny Smith apple—halved, cored and thinly sliced
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Spread the walnuts in a pie plate and bake for 8 minutes, until toasted. Transfer to a plate and cool.
  2. Meanwhile, on a work surface, sprinkle the garlic with a pinch of salt and mash to a paste with the side of a large, heavy knife. Transfer the garlic paste to a bowl and whisk in the goat cheese, then the vinegar and water. Add the olive and walnut oils, thyme and pepper and whisk until blended.
  3. In a large bowl, toss the endive, frisée, arugula and apple slices with the walnuts and dressing. Serve at once.
Notes Instead of Goat Cheese Crème fraîche, fromage blanc, lebneh, mascarpone or quark.

Suggested Pairing

Grapefruity Sauvignon Blanc.