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This delicious salad is great for spring, but really any time of year. This fresh salad is topped with my fav, baked goat cheese balls which can just as easily be enjoyed on their own too.
Why you’ll love this salad with goat cheese balls:
- Versatile: Make these balls and put them on any salad, or eat them on their own. They’re so good
- Healthy: This healthy spring salad recipe is full of nourishing ingredients that will fuel your body
- Meal Prep: Prep the ingredients for this salad, and the balls in advance for an easy lunch idea
Ingredient Notes:
Goat Cheese: Goat cheese is a creamy, soft cheese made with goats milk that I absolutely love in so many recipes. For this recipe, you can switch up the flavor of the goat cheese; instead of using plain goat cheese to make the balls you could try a honey goat cheese.
Maria Koutsogiannia
Maria is the creator of FoodByMaria and your go-to Greek food expert for cozy, flavor-packed recipes. Inspired by her Mediterranean roots, she brings traditional Greek flavors, feel-good ingredients, and a whole lot of joy to everyday cooking.
Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt: For this recipe I used Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt in the baked goat cheese balls, and dressing. This salt has a unique diamond pyramid shape that helps with adhering and dissolving to food quickly but with 53% less sodium compared to regular table salt. It’s additive free, and is recommended by chefs for a quick burst of saltiness and flavor in dishes.
How to make this salad with goat cheese balls:
For the baked goat cheese
- Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Slice the goat cheese log into 8 pieces and roll into balls.
- Set aside three bowls – in one bowl add the flour; in another bowl crack the egg and whisk well; and, in a third bowl stir together the panko breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, garlic powder and dried oregano.
- To coat each goat cheese ball, roll in the flour, dip the ball into the whisked egg and then finally into the panko mixture, rolling to make sure all sides are coated.
- Put goat cheese balls on a plate and freeze for at least 30 minutes while you prep the salad dressing and salad ingredients.
- Preheat the oven to 425F. Once the oven is preheated and the goat cheese has been in the freezer for 30 minutes, add the goat cheese balls to the parchment lined baking sheet. Spray the goat cheese balls with cooking spray and cook 8-12 minutes on the middle rack until just started to turn golden brown (be careful not to overcook or the goat cheese balls will start to melt).
- Remove immediately from the baking sheet to a plate or cutting board to cool and sprinkle with salt (if you leave on the baking sheet they can melt).
For the dressing
- Make the dressing by combining the ingredients in a bowl and whisk OR add to a jar with a lid and shake well.
For the salad
- To assemble the salad, in a large bowl or on a large platter, layer the ingredients side by side: cooked quinoa, red onion, strawberries, red peppers, blueberries, sunflower seeds, arugula, cucumbers and basil. Drizzle with the dressing and toss. Serve topped with baked goat cheese balls.
Expert Tips & FAQ:
Does goat cheese melt easy? It will not melt like mozzarella, instead it just becomes creamy, and spreadable.
What does baked goat cheese taste like? Mild, earth, buttery but tart, this will only deepen as the cheese ripens.
Can goat cheese balls be frozen? Yes! Freeze them in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
What do you eat goat cheese with? EVERYTHING! You can spread it on a sandwich or toast, add it to salads, make goat cheese balls, add it into recipes for a creaminess, the list goes on.
Other recipes you’ll love:
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Ingredients
For the baked goat cheese
- 300 g log of goat cheese (cold), cut into 8 even slices and rolled into balls
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 1 egg
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp dried oregano
For the dressing
- 2 tbsp grainy or dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 6 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp liquid honey
- 1 tsp Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 garlic clove, pressed or minced
- ½ tsp chili flakes
For the salad
- 1 ½ cups cooked quinoa
- ¼ red onion, sliced thin
- ¼ cup sliced strawberries
- ¼ cup sliced red pepper
- 1 cup blueberries
- ⅓ cup sunflower seeds
- 3 cups arugula
- 1 cup chopped cucumber
- ½ cup choppped fresh basil
Instructions
Start CookingFor the baked goat cheese
- Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Slice the goat cheese log into 8 pieces and roll into balls.
- Set aside three bowls – in one bowl add the flour; in another bowl crack the egg and whisk well; and, in a third bowl stir together the panko breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, garlic powder and dried oregano.
- To coat each goat cheese ball, roll in the flour, dip the ball into the whisked egg and then finally into the panko mixture, rolling to make sure all sides are coated.
- Put goat cheese balls on a plate and freeze for at least 30 minutes while you prep the salad dressing and salad ingredients.
- Preheat the oven to 425F. Once the oven is preheated and the goat cheese has been in the freezer for 30 minutes, add the goat cheese balls to the parchment lined baking sheet. Spray the goat cheese balls with cooking spray and cook 8-12 minutes on the middle rack until just started to turn golden brown (be careful not to overcook or the goat cheese balls will start to melt).
- Remove immediately from the baking sheet to a plate or cutting board to cool and sprinkle with salt (if you leave on the baking sheet they can melt).
For the dressing
- Make the dressing by combining the ingredients in a bowl and whisk OR add to a jar with a lid and shake well.
For the salad
- To assemble the salad, in a large bowl or on a large platter, layer the ingredients side by side: cooked quinoa, red onion, strawberries, red peppers, blueberries, sunflower seeds, arugula, cucumbers and basil. Drizzle with the dressing and toss. Serve topped with baked goat cheese balls.
Notes
- Make sure the goat cheese is cold when slicing and then rolling into balls; this makes it a much easier process.
- You can switch up the flavour of the goat cheese; instead of using plain goat cheese to make the balls you could try a honey goat cheese.
- Want to prep some of this recipe ahead of time? You can prepare most of the salad ingredients and store in the fridge until ready to assemble. Same for the dressing.
- These goat cheese balls also make a lovely appetizer! They could be served on some simple salad greens with a sprinkle of salt and drizzle of honey.
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Worked just as written!