Summer Fruit and Fried Goat Cheese Salad

We love goat cheese, and especially when it is warmed up. To beat the cloudy evening, I made this bright summer salad with goat cheese. It presents well with many different vibrant colours, and egg adds that extra protein. You could also server this with grilled chicken. 


Serves 2 - me and my hungry husband with a big appetite! Could serve three people. 


Prep Time: 10 mins  
Hands on cook time:  25 mins
Total Time: 35 mins

Ingredients
1 egg, whole uncooked
2 eggs, hard boiled (I used this method), crumbled
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
4 oz log of goat cheese
handful of blueberries
8 strawberries
4 cups of spring mix or mache blend 
1 bell pepper, I used orange...you could also use jarred roasted red peppers
1/2 onion, thinly sliced 
1/2 tsp roasted garlic powder
1/4 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp dried rosemary
1/4 tsp salt
4 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp minced garlic, I use jarred


For dressing:
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp mustard
splash lime juice
salt and pepper to taste
balsamic glaze (optional)




Directions

1. Cut cheese into six 1/2 inch slices (roughly). If you have dental floss, use that to slice. I didn't so I put the cheese in the freezer for a few minutes and then cut with a very sharp knife. Once cut put back in the fridge to keep cool. If any cheese crumbles off while you are cutting, just add to salad bowl. 
2. Heat grill (my trusty Breville) and slice pepper into pieces to be grilled. When grill is hot, grill peppers until soft and set aside to cool down. Once cool, finely slice the peppers.
3. While peppers are cooking, use a small bowl or dressing jar to make dressing by mixing: balsamic vinegar, olive oil, mustard, garlic and lime juice. Set aside.
4. Slice the end off of 6 strawberries and slice berries, add to salad bowl. With the remaining two, keep end on and slice, then fan out for garnish.
5. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil with brown sugar and minced garlic in small fry pan over medium-high heat, when warm add onion and cook until soft and caramelized. Remove onions from pan  
6. While onions are cooking, set up three small bowls with:
1. Flour
2. Egg, beaten
3. Breadcrumbs, rosemary, salt and basil
7. Dip each slice of goat cheese in flour, then egg, then breadcrumb mixture.
8. When onions are cooked and removed from pan, add 2 additional tsp of oil (don't wash out pan) and then add breaded cheese once the oil is hot. Cook until browned on one side, then flip and brown the other side.
9. While cheese is cooking, add spring mix, blueberries, sliced grilled peppers, caramelized onion and crumbled egg to salad bowl and toss with dressing.
10. Plate salad and place goat cheese patties on top with fanned out strawberries for garnish. 
11. Drizzle with balsamic glaze (optional).