Apple Grape Salad with Pecan Crusted Goat Cheese || Gracefult Kitchen

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Apple Grape Salad with Pecan Crusted Goat Cheese

Salad

Pecan-crusted goat cheese, sweet Red Delicious apples, top off red leaf lettuce tossed in tangy balsamic vinaigrette. Get ahead on dinner prep by preparing the goat cheese and shaking up the vinaigrette up to a day in advance.

Ingredients

1 (8-ounce) log goat cheese, softened
1 teaspoon herbes de Provence or Italian seasoning
1 2/3 cups pecan pieces
4 tablespoons butter
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 pound seedless red grapes
1 medium onion, cut into thin wedges
2 tablespoons dry white wine
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 head red leaf or Bibb lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces
2 medium Red Delicious apples, thinly sliced

Description

Stir together goat cheese and herbes de Provence in a small bowl. Roll into 2 (4-inch) logs. Chill, covered, until ready to use.
Cook pecan pieces, 2 tablespoons butter, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a very large skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until pecans are toasted, about 5 minutes. Cool completely. Finely chop 1 cup pecans and spread in a shallow baking dish.
Slice each log into 6 slices. Roll slices in finely chopped pecans. Chill until ready to serve. (To serve goat cheese warm, see footnote below.)
Wipe out skillet. Add grapes, onion, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until onion is tender and grapes have started to blister, 5 to 7 minutes. Add wine and thyme. Simmer until wine is reduced and grapes are coated, about 1 minute.
For vinaigrette, put oil, vinegar, mustard, honey, pepper, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a screw-top jar. Cover and shake well.
Put lettuce in a large bowl. Drizzle 1/3 cup vinaigrette over lettuce, tossing to coat. Divide among 4 serving plates. Top with grapes, onion, apples, goat cheese, and remaining pecans. Serve with remaining dressing.