Mixed Greens Salad With Warm Goat Cheese Rounds And Balsamic Vinaigrette

• For the Salad
• 5 ounces mixed leaf lettuce
• 1 small cucumber, sliced lengthwise, then cut into 1/4" pieces
• 2 small tomatoes, diced
• 2/3 cup Balsamic Vinaigrette, preferably homemade
• 2 ounces pecan or walnut halves (optional)
• 1 ounce butter (optional)
• 1 ounce brown sugar (optional)
• For the Goat Cheese Rounds
• 6 1/2" slices of goat cheese (log type)
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, preferably homemade
• 2 pinches of Herbes de Provence
• 2 pinches of dried parsley
• 2 pinches of dried thyme
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• black pepper, as desired
• 1 tablespoon light olive oil

1. Place the lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes in two large bowls or plates in which you will serve the salads.
2. (This step is optional if you prefer no nuts in the salad) In a non-stick saute pan, cook the pecans or walnuts, butter and brown sugar over medium low heat until caramelized. Remove from heat and place the nuts on aluminum foil to cool.
3. Next, mix the breadcrumbs, Herbes de Provence, parsley, thyme, salt and pepper and place in a bowl. Dip the goat cheese slices in the beaten egg, then the breadcrumb mixture and set aside. Heat the olive oil in a non stick pan over medium heat, then add the breaded goat cheese rounds. Cook until browned, and gently turn to brown the other side. If the heat is too low, the goat cheese will melt before becoming brown. Remove from pan.
4. Place 1 to 3 warm goat cheese rounds on top of each salad, sprinkle with the caramelized nuts, if using, and serve immediately, drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette.
5. TIP: The nuts can be made ahead of time and kept in a tin. The goat cheese can also be prepped ahead of time and kept refrigerated until the salad is ready to be assembled and served. This salad goes well with warm crusty Italian bread or rolls.

salad, mixed leaf, cucumber, tomatoes, balsamic vinaigrette, pecan, butter, brown sugar, goat cheese, egg, breadcrumbs, parsley, thyme, salt, black pepper, light olive oil

Taken from food52.com/recipes/18930-mixed-greens-salad-with-warm-goat-cheese-rounds-and-balsamic-vinaigrette (may not work)