The saltiness of the warm sea breeze and the sweetness of the warm summer sunshine beautifully pair together to create a delightful warm goats cheese salad. The only other special ingredient needed to make the dish complete is, “Bon Ami” – Good Friends to share it with.
A warm salad of goats cheese, bacon, pear and wild rocket on a toasted rustic crust. “Bon Ami “ (Good Friends) – Inspired by a trip to the Côte d’Azur, France. Serves 2.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cooking Time 15/20 minutes
Ingredients
The warm salad:
100gms English Goats Cheese
Fresh Wild Rocket – a handful
3 Pear Halves, cut into 3mm slices – (Natures Finest in natural juice or tinned)
7 Smoked Streaky Bacon rashers
(Cut in half then rolled up. I leave some larger and some smaller so there is a mix of sizes to use)
Small Loaf, like a seeded batch – (Cut two slices 1.5 to 2 cm thick)
The Dressing:
2 tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tsp Whole Grain Mustard
1/2 tsp Yuzu
Sea Salt and black pepper to taste
The Garnish:
Mini Capers
Small Nasturtium Leaves
Edible Flowers (if desired)
The Method:
1.Cook your streaky bacon rolled up at 180 C in a fan oven for 10 – 15 minutes, or until they are crispy but not burnt turn them halfway and put to one side.
2. Toast your bread until browned.
3. Rub your toast in the bacon fat and place bacon seasoned side up in the same baking tray.
4. Get messy breaking the ripe goat cheese with your fingers and squidging lumps onto the toasted bread in a haphazard fashion. Try not to lick your fingers!!
5. Squidge your bacon into the cheese. Depending on the size of your bread and your generosity, use what you see fit and looks great.
6 Pop your bacon and goats cheese toasts under a full grill but only until the goat cheese has melted – watch it very carefully! Remove from grill and place on your choice of serving dish.
7. Arrange your fresh rocket around the plate, placing the pieces of sliced pear in an ad hoc fashion.
8. Put all the dressing ingredients into a small ramakin and mix (the whole grain won’t mix in much, it doesn’t matter). Season the dressing to your taste then use a teaspoon to drip it over the rocket and pear.
9. Garnish with mini capers and if you have them. Nasturtium leaves and/or edible flowers look great and also give another nice and mild peppery note to the dish.
Baldchefnicks Tips n Tricks:
Good quality ripe goats cheese is fabulous but you could if you prefer, replace it with any similar textured cheese such as Brie or Camembert. Can be served as a starter or slightly increased in portion size as a main course.
Enjoy!
