Herby Strawberry Salad with Goat Cheese
Serves 4-6
This is a beautiful Spring strawberry salad with goat cheese crumbles, handfuls of fresh herbs, red onion slivers, savory-sweet pepitas, lots of black pepper and a perfectly emulsified balsamic vinaigrette. Perfect for a Mother’s Day Brunch.
Vinaigrette
2 Tablespoons red onion, finely minced
2 Tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons honey
Salt and Pepper
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Pepitas
1/3 cup raw, hulled pepitas
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon honey
Salad
8 cups red or green leaf, or romaine lettuce, torn into bite size pieces
1/2 cup parsley leaves, rough chopped
2 tablespoons mint leaves, chopped
1/2 a red onion, cut into paper thin slivers
1 quart strawberries, hulled and sliced 1/4-inch thick
1/2 cup (4 ounces) crumbled goat cheese
For the vinaigrette. Mince the onions very finely, almost into a paste. Scrape the onions and any accumulated juices into a small mixing bowl. Add the balsamic, honey, salt, and pepper, and set aside for 5 – 10 minutes. Then, whisking vigorously, add the olive oil a very small drizzle at a time. Allow each oil addition to completely emulsify before adding more.
To make the pepitas, set a small skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and pepitas. Once they start to sizzle and pop, add the honey, Aleppo pepper, and salt. Cook 1 – 2 minutes total, just until pepitas are golden and fragrant. Scrape into a shallow dish. Taste a seed or two and add salt as needed. Let pepitas cool undisturbed (they will cool into delicious little clumps).
To serve, toss the lettuce and herbs with several spoonfuls of vinaigrette. Add salt and pepper to taste. In another little bowl, toss the red onion slivers with vinaigrette and a pinch of salt.
Arrange the lettuce on a platter or in a shallow bowl. Layer the red onions, strawberries, pepitas, and chèvre. Drizzle with vinaigrette and gently toss. Taste and add more black pepper or a pinch of salt just before serving. Adapted from: Brooklyn Supper
