Salads

Crunchy Romaine Summer Salad

May 21, 2020 by Alyssa

Toasted ramen noodles mixed with walnuts and pepitas star in this simple yet flavorful Crunchy Romaine Summer Salad.

My Aunt Kim used to make this Crunchy Romaine Summer Salad for family get-togethers and I remember loving it as a child. It’s so simple but packs serious flavor. It’s nutty, salty, acidic, and sweet all in one bite, making it a definite crowd pleaser!

I was recently reminded of this salad while flipping through some family recipes my Mom gave me and knew I had to immediately make it for <3M. He loves ramen noodles so I thought throwing them on top of some greens may be a good way to coerce him into eating more veggies (and it worked!).

It’s All About the Crunch

My favorite part about this salad is the crunchy ramen noodle & toasted walnut topping that gives this salad its name.

Yes, you use RAMEN noodles. Raw ramen noodles to be exact — like the kind from the little square packs that come with a side seasoning such as ‘chicken flavor’ or ‘beef flavor.’ Except for this recipe, you just open the noodles, toss the flavor packet, and break up the noddles into pieces for toasting with butter on the stovetop.

It’s delicious.

Looking for more salad recipes? Try my Grilled Shrimp and Peach Panzanella Salad with Basil Vinaigrette

In fact, I remember making this salad with my Mom as a child and eating JUST the topping. My Mom and I used to spread the warm crunchy topping on top of paper towels to cool then snack on the topping before it ever made it to the salad.

Toasting the noodles, walnuts, and pepitas

In fact, when I recently made the recipe, I did the exact same thing!

I laid the crunchy topping out on paper towels and even snapped a pic of it to send in a group text to my Mom & Aunts, asking them to guess what I was making. They all instantly knew what it was, the unique combination of walnuts and ramen are a dead giveaway for the Crunchy Romaine Summer Salad!

Crunchy ramen noodle salad topping

Updating the Crunchy Romaine Summer Salad Recipe

While I love the original recipe, I made a few changes to make the salad a tad healthier than its 90’s version.

Here are my updates:

Added pepitas for a superfood boost in addition to the walnuts and ramen noodles in the topping
Reduced the amount of sugar in the dressing by decreasing the amount and swapping honey for white sugar
Utilized a tablespoon less butter for toasting the ramen noodles, walnuts, and pepitas

Other than those three modifications, this recipe is pretty much the same and 100% just as delicious as I remembered.

And best yet, <3M also loved it. He was just as obsessed with the crunchy ramen noodle topping as I was as a child.

And honestly, I may have to make the topping again all by itself just to have on hand to throw on other salads or dinner options. I highly suggest you do too when you make it.

In fact, just double the topping ingredients so you’ll have plenty of leftovers.

Crunchy Romaine Summer Salad

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Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

10 mins

Total time

30 mins

Crunchy Romaine Summer Salad Author: Alyssa Prep time: 20 mins Cook time: 10 mins Total time: 30 mins Serves: 4 salads

Author: Alyssa

Serves: 4 salads

Ingredients

For the salad:
1 head of romaine lettuce, roughly chopped into bite-size pieces
8 scallions, green and white parts sliced into ¼-inch rounds
For the crunchy topping:
1 pack of ramen noodles, flavor packet discarded and noodles broke into 1-inch or smaller pieces
¼ cup chopped walnuts
¼ cup raw pepitas
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ teaspoon salt
For the dressing:
¼ cup red wine vinegar
¼ cup olive oil
2 teaspoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

Melt the butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add in the walnuts and ramen noodles, stirring to coat the nuts and noodles with the melted butter.
Cook until noodles and walnuts begin to lightly brown, about 5-6 minutes then add in the pepitas and cook for another 3-4 minutes until everything is golden brown.
Sprinkle everything with the ½ teaspoon salt, stir, then remove from heat. Place the topping ingredients on a paper towel to cool until serving.
In a large ball jar or small bowl, add the vinegar, oil, soy sauce, honey, and ground black pepper. Give it a good shake (or whisk vigorously) to combine.
When ready to serve, place the lettuce pieces and scallions in a large bowl and toss lightly with half the dressing. Top with the cooled ramen noodle topping and serve.
Store any additional topping in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days.
Store any additional dressing in the fridge for 3-5 days.

Grilled Shrimp & Peach Panzanella Salad with Basil Vinaigrette

July 10, 2018 by Alyssa

Grilled Shrimp & Peach Panzanella Salad with Basil Vinaigrette uses seasonal ingredients to create a light but fresh summertime salad.

With a burst of fresh basil, sweetness from perfectly ripe peaches, and a hint of spice from grilled shrimp this panzanella salad is perfectly fit for lunch or dinner.

I love fancy salads that are both simple and delicious. I also love using seasonal produce in my salads and was inspired by the summer bounty of peaches and basil to create a fresh salad starring both.

This salad was created as more of an in the moment recipe — working with what I had in the kitchen and pairing flavors as I went along. For my base I started with baby kale, sugar snap peas for crunch, and sliced green onions since their flavor isn’t as potent as red onions (plus, I just really dislike raw red onions).

I personally love fresh fruit in my salads and knew I wanted to incorporate juicy, ripe peaches but had to off-set the sweetness they would add to the dish. In hopes of balancing the naturally sweet peaches, I created a basil vinaigrette that’s heavy on lemon using both real lemon juice and a white lemon balsamic vinegar from Texas Hill Country Olive Oil (my favorite! I also use it in my Cali breakfast toast recipe). If you’ve never had basil and lemon paired together, you’re missing out. This basil vinaigrette would also make a great dipping sauce for fresh, soft bread!

With both the sweet and acidic elements in check, I began looking for a way to incorporate the slightest hint of spice into my Grilled Shrimp & Peach Panzanella Salad so I tossed the shrimp with cumin, smoked paprika, and a bit more lemon before quickly searing both sides on the grill.

For extra crunch and because I love a good crouton, I baked up leftover crusty bread with a drizzle of olive oil and garlic salt until it was golden and crispy. Once tossed with the basil vinaigrette, the croutons became chewy, flavorful bites elevating the Grilled Shrimp & Peach Panzanella Salad to that of restaurant quality!

Fun Fact: <3M and I alway compare fancy at home salads to that of restaurants’, asking one another ‘how much would this salad be at a restaurant?’ This one clocked in at about $14 in our minds!

The end product was a deliciously balanced salad — sweet, acidic, spicy and crunchy from the fresh vegetables and chewy bread. Grilled Shrimp & Peach Panzanella Salad with Basil Vinaigrette is a divine summertime salad perfect for lunch or dinner. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

5.0 from 2 reviews

Grilled Shrimp & Peach Panzanella Salad with Basil Vinaigrette

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Prep time

30 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

45 mins

Author: Alyssa

Serves: 4

Ingredients

For the panzanella bread

1/2 loaf crusty bread, like ciabatta, cut or torn into 1 inch cubes
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon garlic salt
For the shrimp

1 pound shrimp, peeled & deveined
1 tablespoon lemon juice
zest from half a lemon
1 teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon smoked paprkina
salt and pepper to taste
For the basil vinaigrette
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoon while lemon balsamic vinegar
zest from half a lemon
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 cup fresh basil leaves
salt and pepper to taste
For the salad
8 cups baby kale
2 cups sugar snap peas
4 green onions, thinly sliced
2 peaches, pits removed and thinly sliced

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper
Toss the bread cubes with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the garlic salt
Spread the bread evenly on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes, tossing once halfway until golden brown and crusty. Remove from oven and let cool.
Quickly marinate the shrimp by tossing the shrimp with 1 tablespoon lemon juice, zest, spices, and salt and pepper. Let set 5-10 minutes. When ready to eat, grill the shrimp 2-3 minute per side over a medium flame. Let rest while assembling the salad.
Prepare the basil vinaigrette by placing all vinaigrette ingredients into a food processor and pulsing until the ingredients have emulsified and the basil is finely minced.
To assemble the salad, toss together the kale, sugar snap peas, green onions, peaches, and panzanella croutons. Pour half of the basil vinaigrette over top and toss to coat. Plate the salads and place the cooked shrimp on top. Serve with additional dressing on the side.

My House Salad Dressing: Everyday Balsamic Vinaigrette

February 3, 2018 by Alyssa

My house salad dressing, Everyday Balsamic Vinaigrette, is a simple, homemade salad dressing inspired by a trip to Greece. It pairs well with most salad combinations and can be used as a base recipe to create other dressing variations.

I eat a lot of salads. I also know salad dressings are one of the most processed foods. A lot of store-bought dressing contain added sugars, fats, and chemicals used for emulsion. Knowing this, I decided to create my own salad dressing, which I call Everyday Balsamic Dressing. This is what I consider to be my house dressing, nicknamed Everyday Balsamic because I use it almost daily.

Greek Inspired

My Everyday Balsamic Dressing is inspired by the salads I ate while visiting Greece a few years ago. In Greece, the standard Greek salad is served with olive oil, red wine vinegar, and dried oregano.

These three ingredients, olive oil, vinegar, and oregano are the base for my dressing. To the three base ingredients, I add dijon mustard for spice and to help thicken the dressing then finish it off with the standard salt and pepper seasoning.

My Standard Salad

I love this Everyday Balsamic dressing because it pairs so well with most styles of salad. My go-to salad base includes greens, bell pepper, scallions, cucumber, and garbanzo beans. From there, I add a protein plus my Everyday Hummus and baby carrots for dipping!

My Everyday Balsamic Dressing is also a great base recipe for creating other variations. When modifying the recipe, try to keep the 1:1 ratio of oil to vinegar to help maintain the dressing consistency we’re all familiar with.

A few of my favorite variations include:

Use red wine, sherry, or rice wine vinegar in place of the balsamic vinegar
Add a 1/2 teaspoon of garlic granules
Swap the oregano for Italian Seasoning
Make it spicier by adding a 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
Create a ranch vinaigrette by adding a tablespoon of seasoning

No matter how you modify the recipe, it’s sure to be a success and will hopefully become your house dressing in the same way as it’s become mine!

Everyday Balsamic Salad Dressing

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Prep time

5 mins

Total time

5 mins

Author: Alyssa

Serves: 4

Ingredients

¼ cup quality extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoon dijon mustard
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ ground black pepper

Instructions

Pour all ingredients into a small jar
Place the lid on the jar and shake vigorously to combine
Serve immediately or store at room temperature for up to 5 days

Saturday Lunch for Two: Tarragon Chicken Salad

May 12, 2017 by Alyssa

Tarragon Chicken Salad is a modern twist on a classic recipe that’s perfectly fit for two when served atop a bed of greens for an easy, weekend lunch!

This recipe for Tarragon Chicken Salad is inspired by my Mom who loves chicken salad! Growing up, she made a classic chicken salad with grapes, celery, and walnuts all tossed in mayonnaise and served on a bed of lettuce. When my Mom made chicken salad for lunch, it was usually on the weekends when my Aunt Val visited as a nice lunch for the group.

In anticipation of Aunt Val’s visit, Mom often talked about her plans for chicken salad lunch in the days before! Her excitement about the meal, in turn, led me to get excited too! All this talk and anticipation around chicken salad somehow led me to believe chicken salad was a fancy meal!

As a child, I had this daydream that chicken salad was the kind of meal ‘ladies who lunch’ enjoyed while sipping on ice cold lemonade at the country club wearing pretty dresses & pearls!

And me, coming from a small farming community, I loved this daydream, picturing myself as one day being the ‘lady who lunches’ (on chicken salad) in her fancy clothes with all her girlfriends.

Today, with my own recipe for Tarragon Chicken Salad, I still think of chicken salad as a fancy lunch! My modern twist on Mom’s chicken salad recipe really does make turn this classic lunch into something fancy, starring tarragon, a herb that it is quite often overlooked at the grocery store.

Tarragon has a slight anise taste while being fresh, tangy, and a tad bittersweet. Combined with this herb, my chicken salad recipe also has a spritz of lemon, a grate of garlic and diced cucumber for crunch. And, of course, with a nod to my Mom, it’s all mixed up with a touch of mayonnaise!

I made my fancy Tarragon Chicken Salad on a Saturday, just like Mom’s, and served it up fancy-style on a bed of greens to enjoy with a tall glass of lemonade. Eating my Tarragon Chicken salad, I was officially a lady who lunched — at home, at her kitchen counter, with the dogs, in sweaty gym clothes — but still, I was the lady who lunched eating her fancy chicken salad.

When you make this recipe, I hope you take the time to sit down, relax, enjoy the meal and pretend you’re fancy while enjoying your Tarragon Chicken Salad!

5.0 from 2 reviews

Saturday Lunch for Two: Tarragon Chicken Salad

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

30 mins

Serves: 2

Ingredients

2 cups cooked chicken, cubed
¼ cup diced cucumber
2 tablespoons finely diced red onion
2 tablespoons tarragon, roughly chopped
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
¼ of a lemon, juiced
½ small clove, grated
2 cups spring mix, for serving
additional lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions

In a medium size bowl, mix together all the ingredients except for the spring mix and lemon wedges.
Add more salt and pepper to taste.
Chill for 20 minutes in the refrigerator or until serving.
To plate, place the chicken salad atop the spring mix and serve with a slice of lemon.

Cold Sesame Soba Noodle and Cucumber Salad with Poached Shrimp

August 24, 2016 by Alyssa

This Cold Sesame Soba Noodle and Cucumber Salad with Poached Shrimp is a healthy, filling Asian-inspired salad, perfect for lunch or a light dinner

During warmer months, I crave lighter, fresher dishes and this Cold Sesame Soba Noodle and Cucumber Salad with Poached Shrimp fits my summertime menu perfectly! It brings a bit of Asian flare with chilled soba noodles, edamame, cucumber and a light sesame seed oil dressing. Topped with a few pieces of chilled shrimp and sliced avocado, this salad is a filling, healthy meal that can easily transition between lunch and dinner!

My Cold Sesame Soba Noodle and Cucumber Salad recipe is inspired by the Vegan Soba Salad at one of my favorite sushi restaurants here in Austin, Kome. Sadly, Kome seems to no longer serves this dish but my version hits all the same flavor notes and can be made vegan simply by leaving out the poached shrimp or substituting it with a bit of tofu.

When creating this Cold Sesame Soba Noodle and Cucumber Salad, my aim was to incorporate my favorite Asian flavors while balancing the salad’s healthy attributes. Much like Kome’s salad, mine begins with soba noodles but also includes cucumber noodles in its base.

Soba noodles are a wonderful addition to any diet and are made from buckwheat flour. Buckwheat is considered a heart healthy grain that has been proven to help prevent heart disease. It’s also a great source of protein, fiber and iron when compared to similar servings of traditional flour-based noodles. Because buckwheat is a whole grain, soba noodles are slow digesting which ensures you’ll stay fuller longer and maintain balanced blood sugar levels while digesting. Needless to say, this is a light meal that will satisfy a hungry appetite!

Although the addition of cucumbers strays a tad from Kome’s version, the cucumber noodles help bulk up the salad without denting its health benefits. I prefer using a spiralizer, like this one, to make cucumber noodles but if you don’t have one available, you can simply substitute thinly sliced cucumber halves. The addition of cucumbers also brings a coolness to the already chilled dish, making it a refreshing meal.

Keeping with the Asian theme, I incorporated edamame, scallions and black sesame seeds into the Cold Sesame Soba Noodle and Cucumber Salad. For the dressing, I chose to use tamari for a bit of saltiness, sesame seed oil as a savory element, and rice wine vinegar to balance out the flavors with the rice wine vinegar’s natural tang and sweetness.

I like pairing poached shrimp with this salad for added protein, as the shrimp are delicate enough to blend with the salad without competing with the light Asian flavors. To finish the salad, I add a few slices of avocado for healthy fat, a dash of red pepper flakes for spice and a sprinkle of black sesame seeds. The black sesame seeds definitely aren’t necessary but they do take this homemade salad up a notch, making it feel like a special, fancy meal!

My Cold Sesame Soba Noodle and Cucumber Salad recipe makes a rather large portion. <3M and I enjoyed it for dinner one night then again for a few lunches in the following days. If you plan to make the full recipe and choose to eat it for several meals, I suggest leaving the cucumber out and simply adding it in as you serve each meal so the cucumber maintains its fresh crunch!

Whether you have this for lunch or dinner, it’s a meal I know you’ll enjoy eating and your body will thank you for making.

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Cold Sesame Soba Noodle and Cucumber Salad with Poached Shrimp

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This Cold Sesame Soba Noodle and Cucumber Salad with Poached Shrimp is a healthy, filling Asian-inspired salad, perfect for lunch or a light dinner

Serves: 6 salads

Ingredients

1 pound shrimp, fully cooked with tails removed and chilled
1 9-ounce package of soba noodles
1 cup shelled, edamame
½ cup (~1 bunch) scallions, whites and greens sliced
2 large seedless cucumbers, spiralized into noodles
3 tablespoons tamari (or soy sauce)
¼ cup rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1 small clove garlic, minced
½ teaspoon salt
Optional: avocado, red pepper flakes, black sesame seeds & additional rice wine vinegar

Instructions

First, prepare an ice bath to shock the soba noodles and edamame once they're cooked.
To do this, place cold water in a large bowl, fill with ice then set aside.
Next, prepare the noodles and edamame by bringing a large stockpot of water to boil (do not salt the water).
Once boiling, add in the uncooked soba noodles and set a timer for 4 minutes.
After 3 minutes of cooking, add the shelled edamame to the soba noodles and boiling water.
At the 4 minute mark, strain the soba noodles and edamame then immediately place the strainer into the prepared ice bath to stop the cooking. Let sit 2-3 minutes then remove and strain completely. Set aside.
To prepare the dressing mix together the tamari, rice wine vinegar, sesame seed oil, lime juice, ginger, garlic, and salt.
Place the soba noodles and edamame in a large bowl then add in the cucumber noodles.
Pour the dressing over the noodles and using tongs, toss to incorporate. Stir in the scallions.
Chill for at least 1-2 hours before serving.
To serve, place a portion of the noodle salad in a bowl, top with a few slices of avocado and 5-6 poached shrimp. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes, sesame seeds, and a small splash of rice wine vinegar, if desired.

Athenian Garbanzo Bean Salad with Green Apple Vinaigrette

June 1, 2016 by Alyssa

Inspired by a trip to Greece, this Athenian Garbanzo Bean Salad with Green Apple Vinaigrette is a sweet, tart, savory and crunchy salad – perfect for summer dining.

A few weeks ago <3M and I took a dream vacation to Rome, Italy and Greece, visiting the island of Santorini and spending a few days in the city of Athens. It was seriously a foodie’s vacation. We honestly ate our way across the two countries. There was no holding back. We ate everything — bread, wine, cheese, pasta, sweets — is your mouth watering yet?

Below are a few snapshots of some of my favorite bites from the trip plus a few breathtaking views. If you want more, head over to my Instagram and scroll back to early May for extra meals pics and trip highlights.

While I tasted my way across Italy & Greece, I was taking notes on my favorite dishes so when I landed back home in my own kitchen, I could recreate my most memorable meals, like this Athenian Garbanzo Bean Salad with Green Apple Vinaigrette. <3M & I shared this Garbanzo Bean Salad while dining in Athens and it was definitely one of our favorite dishes of the trip.

One reason I absolutely love Greek food is because everything is prepared very simply, using fresh ingredients and this Athenian Garbanzo Bean Salad with Green Apple Vinaigrette is no exception.

Each ingredient in the bean salad is easily identifiable which is why it was so easy to recreate at home. My favorite ingredient in this bean salad is definitely the surprise pop of pomegranate arils. They’re crunchy, sweet and also a bit tart.

If you’ve never worked in a pomegranate before, there’s no need to feel intimidated. You can purchase pomegranate arils at the store but you can also purchase a whole pomegranate and remove the arils on your own. The process really is quite simple and straight forward:

Fill a large bowl with cold water and place it in your sink
Cut the pomegranate in half
Hold a pomegranate half over the bowl filled with water and use your fingers to gently break the arils away from the white pulp. If there’s any juice splatter, your sink will keep it from staining your kitchen.
As you break away the seeds, they’ll fall into the water and sink to the bottom of the bowl, while the pulp will float to the top
Once you’re done, skim the white pulp from the bowl, strain out the water and you’re left clean pomegranate arils that are ready to eat!

If that’s too much, there’s also this nifty trick where you beat the pomegranate with a wooden spoon to remove the arils but in my attempts, this didn’t work and I actually broke my wooden spoon. If you have any luck with this method, let me know but I believe it also depends on the age/ripeness of your pomegranate. Either way, I guarantee my above method works.

If you have any luck with this method, let me know! Either way, I guarantee my above method works.

Like the salad ingredients, the dressing is also very simple with a bit of olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon and a touch of honey. All together this Athenian Garbanzo Bean Salad with Gren Apple Vinaigrette is sweet, tart, savory and crunchy.

Like most meals I make, this Athenian Garbanzo Bean Salad with Green Apple Vinaigrette can be thrown together in less than 20 minutes. It tastes great freshly made but I definitely prefer to let the bean salad sit for at least an hour to chill and let the flavors marinade and blend together. This bean salad is perfect for a warm summer night paired with a bit of grilled shrimp or chicken. It’s also great served atop a bed of lettuce for a light, vegetarian lunch.

3.0 from 1 reviews

Athenian Garbanzo Bean Salad with Green Apple Vinaigrette

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

10 mins

Total time

20 mins

Serves: 4-6 salads

Ingredients

3 cups garbanzo beans
1 medium tart green apple (like a Granny Smith), chopped to a quarter inch
2 tablespoons red onion, diced
¼ cup golden raisins
pomegranate arils, from half of a pomegranate
¼ cup fresh mint, finely chopped*
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
juice of half a lemon

Instructions

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, lemon juice, cumin, salt & pepper until emulsified. Set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together the garbanzo beans, chopped green apple, diced onion, raisins, and pomegranate arils.
Pour the dressing over the garbanzo bean mixture and gently toss to coat.
If serving immediately, fold in the fresh mint.
If serving later, place the salad in the fridge to chill for at least an hour and just prior to serving, chop and fold in the mint.

Notes

Once mint has been cut, it bruises easily and turns brown or black in color rather than a bright, fresh green. To avoid this, chop and add your mint to the salad just prior to serving.

Panko Crusted Goat Cheese Salad

January 25, 2012 by Alyssa

Usually while dining, the term “cheesy” refers to calorie bomb, most often in the form of a creamy, gooey, or melted. Though delicious, this cheese is usually accompanied with something being fried (MozzSticks), smothered (Enchiladas), or creamy (Alfredo).

Now cheese isn’t bad but there is a good and bad way to eat it.

CheeseStick – Good: Go for lowfat and have it with some almonds or an apple as an afternoon snack. I love Sargento because they even make flavored sticks like Pepper Jack & White Cheddar to switch it up.

Feta- Good: Enjoy it on a salad. The harder the cheese the better it is for you, honestly. Atheno is my personal favorite, even the reduced-fat version is amazing. Sprinkle it on salads and wraps.

Alfredo – Bad: It not only involves cheese but cream as well which is code for fat.

Queso – Bad: Not only is it creamy, gooey, and melted but it comes with a side salty chips. And you no, once you start you can’t stop.

If you really want cheese in your diet – try shredded cheese, a little goes a long ways and make it the reduced-fat or part-skim version. Cabot makes a great 50% fat free cheese in a variety of flavors. Need blue cheese, swiss cheese, Mexican cheese, or an herby cheese? Try Laughing Cow wedges. They’re 35 calories and low in fat. I’ve used them for quesadillas, buffalo wraps, alfredo sauces, and even just plain ol’ cheese & cracker snacks. This company is also the maker of the famous mini Babybel cheese rounds. Those are good in moderation as well – like a cheese stick type snack.

This being said, the king of cheese, at least in my opinion, is Goat Cheese aka Chevre. It’s French. It’s fancy. It’s creamy. It’s decadent. It’s full of flavor. It usually have 70-80 calories per ounce and around 6g of fat. Totally reasonable for cheese. Plus they make all types – spreadable logs, crumbles, and even cream cheese, I have a Fig flavor that’s great on bagel thins.

The below recipe is my ode to Chevre. Healthified of course! Often times while dining out, I’m drawn to a specific goat cheese salad, the encrusted goat cheese medallion salad that I often find on restaurant menus. However, I’ve never ordered it for I know the truth about this salad. This once healthy salad is destroyed in a restaurant kitchen with a dip in the fryer resulting in oil soaked cheese rounds.

So here’s my version at home version that’s quick and healthy.

Encrusted Goat Cheese Salad with Grapefruit Balsamic

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Prep time

30 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

50 mins

Serves: 2 salads

Ingredients

¼ cup panko bread crumbs
3 tablespoons whole almonds, finely chopped in a food processor
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon dried basil
3 tablespoons flour
3 tablespoons liquid egg whites or 1 egg white
1-4oz log of Chevre cut into 6 rounds
1 grapefruit (3/4 sections with skins removed, ¼ used for juicing)
Spring mix (3-4 cups or desired salad size)
¼ cucumber, diced
a handful of berries of choice, as garnish
additional almonds, coarsely chopped, as garnish
¼ cucumber, diced
handful of berries of choice, as garnish
additional almonds, coarsely chopped, as garnish
3 tablespoons fresh squeezed grapefruit juice (about 1 quarter of the fruit)
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 – 2 teaspoons agave nectar or honey

Instructions

In a bowl mix breadcrumbs, almonds, salt, pepper and basil.
In a 2nd bowl, place flour.
In a 3rd bowl place egg whites.
Next, cut four goat cheese rounds. If you have trouble cutting the rounds, warm the knife under hot running water to make the cut a bit easier, then mold and flatten to get your desired round shape.
Take our four goat cheese rounds and dip the rounds in the flour then egg whites, then panko-almond mixture. You might need to press the crumb mixture into the grounds. Set aside.
Next make the balsamic dressing.
Heat balsamic vinegar over low heat on stove. Squeeze in 3 tablespoons of grapefruit juice (roughly a quarter of a grapefruit). Once warmed, stir in agave nectar or honey. Taste for desired sweetness. It should be sweet-tangy. Set aside.
Next, assemble the salads so they’re prepared when medallions are done cooking. Compile spring mix, cucumbers, grapefruit sections, berries, and roughly chopped almonds.
Finally, heavily spray a pan with olive oil (I use Pam Olive Oil). Heat on medium high and place medallions into pan. Cook 2-3 minutes per side until a brown and golden crust forms. Before flipping, spray the uncooked, top side with olive oil (3-4 second spray per round) and gently flip. Allow to cook until also golden and crispy. (You may need to re-spray pan if it looks a tad dry.)
Once medallions are cooked and warmed through center, place on paper towel to soak up excess oil. Let stand 1 minute then place a top salads, drizzle with dressing and serve.