Name: Fried Goat Cheese and Roasted Beet Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: 1 pound red or golden beets (3-4 medium size beets); 4 ounces goat cheese (log shaped); 1 cup Italian panko bread crumbs; 1/4 cup all purpose flour; 2 eggs (whisked); Neutral oil for shallow frying (about 1 1/2 cups enough to shallow fry); 1 medium shallot (thinly sliced); 1/3 cup chopped walnuts; 5 ounces arugula; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 1 tablespoon honey; 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

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This fried goat cheese and roasted beet salad with homemade roasted beets, crispy fried goat cheese discs, over a bed of arugula, and topped with walnuts, thinly sliced shallots, and a honey balsamic vinaigrette. Roasted beets and crispy goat cheese are the perfect pair in this delicious salad.

an arugula salad topped with fried goat cheese sliced down the middle, quartered roasted beets, and shallots on a white plate

Ingredients

plate of arugula, bowl of roasted beets, walnuts, plate of crispy fried goat cheese

Roasted beets
Fried goat cheese: log of goat cheese, egg wash, panko bread crumbs, flour
Arugula
Shallots
Walnuts
Honey balsamic vinaigrette: balsamic vinaigrette, honey, olive oil

Why eat beets?

Beets are loaded with nutrients and low calorie. They are high in fiber, vitamin A, potassium, antioxidants, and so many other vitamins. Beets can help lower blood pressure and anemia, and improves blood flow and circulation to your muscles.

There are many different colors of beets, the most popular being red and golden beets. I’ve used this beet salad recipe with both colors, the red being more grassy/earthy and the golden beets being more mild/sweeter in flavor.

How to roast beets

slicing beets off stem and wrapping in foil on a baking sheet

Most grocery stores sell beets on the stalk and some will sell with the stalk cut off. You can actually utilize the beet greens in salads or sauté them, for added nutrients in dishes.
Cut the beets off the stalk and if there is a long root on the end, remove that as well.
Scrub the beets under cold water until clean.
Wrap the beet tightly in foil and place on a baking dish. The beets will leak as they cook, so you can also place parchment paper under the beets, for easier clean up. Roast beets at 425F for 1 hour.

peeling skin off beets and dice the beets on a cutting board

After an hour has passed, remove the beets from the oven and carefully remove the foil (it will release a lot of hot steam).
Next, cut any exposed stem at the top and peel the skin off the beet. I use gloves because the beets stain my hands. The skin will easily peel off the beet, discard.
Slice the beets into 1 ½ inch pieces and repeat with remaining beets.
I like my beets chilled, so I place the bowl of sliced roasted beets in the refrigerator to chill. You can also just have them at room temperature.

How to bread goat cheese

slicing goat cheese on a wooden cutting board

I’ve made this roasted beet salad with just goat cheese, but the texture and flavor of the crispy fried goat cheese just takes it to another level.

Fried goat cheese ingredients: goat cheese log, panko bread crumbs, flour, eggs
Place goat cheese in the freezer for 10 minutes, this will help slicing it and keeping its form. Slice goat cheese log into ¼ inch round slices. If you slice them too thin, they will fall apart.

breading goat cheese in egg wash and panko breadcrumbs

Take a goat cheese disc and coat in flour, tapping/brushing off any excess flour for an even coating.
Next, use a fork to lower the flour coated goat cheese into the egg, coating both sides.
Place the goat cheese into the panko breadcrumbs covering the entire slice.
Repeat with remaining slices of goat cheese. Place breaded goat cheese in refrigerator until you’re ready to fry.

How to fry goat cheese

shallow frying breaded goat cheese in a cast iron skillet

In a cast iron skillet or fry safe pan, heat oil to 325F-350F. Since we are shallow frying, you only need enough oil to reach half the thickness of the goat cheese.
Shallow fry goat cheese for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden. Be sure not to crowd the goat cheese slices, you may have to fry in batches.
Place on a paper towel lined plate to absorb excess oil.
Repeat until all sliced goat cheese is fried.

How to assemble roasted beet and fried goat cheese salad

Arugula salad on a white plate topped with fried goat cheese, roasted beet slices, shallots, and walnuts.

Lay down bed of arugula then top with roasted beets, thinly sliced shallot, fried goat cheese slices, chopped walnuts, and then drizzle with honey balsamic vinaigrette over the top.

close up of fried goat cheese cut in half surrounded by roasted beets on a bed or arugula on a white plate

How to store

Beets: you can prepare the beets ahead of time and keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Fried goat cheese: you can store the fried goat cheese in the refrigerator, but it is best enjoyed freshly fried.
Salad: if preparing the salad in advance, do not dress the salad until it’s ready to serve.

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