Blackberry Goat Cheese Salad

There is something special about colorful salads with the crunch of nuts, the sweet burst of berries and the smooth tangy hint of  goat cheese.  This salad is full of antioxidants from the berries and generous mix of salad greens such as spinach, arugula and red leaf lettuce. 

The nuts add a nice crunchiness and a little protein. It is salads like this that make clean eating quite enjoyable and satisfying.  This is super easy to make and super tasty and absolutely perfect for entertaining or enjoying on those lazy days of summer when it is too  hot to cook.

This can be in your mouth right now

What could be better than the sweetness of blackberries and the tang of goat cheese

A little temptation. Ready to have some salad?

Ingredients

Salad Dressing

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon Minced Shallots

1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic

1 Pint Fresh Blackberries (you will need additional Blackberries to top the salad)

1/2 cup Tarragon Vinegar (or whatever vinegar you have on hand)

1 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar

1 Tablespoon Honey

1 Tablespoon fresh chopped mint

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Salad Ingredients

Mixed Salad Greens

1/2 cup Walnuts roughly chopped

2 ounces crumbled Goat Cheese

1/2 cup Blackberries

To make the Salad Dressing:

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium high heat. Add the garlic and the shallots and saute until translucent. Add the blackberries and continue cooking for a couple of minutes. Add the vinegars and continue cooking until reduced by half (about 20 seconds) Remove from heat . Put in Blender with Honey, mint, salt and pepper. Add olive oil a little at a time through feeder until emulsified. Strain through a sieve into a clean bowl. Refrigerate until completely cool.

To Prepare Salad 

Toss washed and dried salad greens and all other ingredients in a large bowl. Lightly toss with dressing or put individual portions on plate and drizzle with the dressing.

 Bon Appetit!