Eating with the Seasons: Blood Orange Salad with Goat’s Cheese

Drool.

I’m sorry. That was impolite. But I have a thing about melted goat cheese with salad.

In fact, I just have a thing about salad. I like salads the way I like them: with lots of stuff in them.

I’m very particular about the things I like:

I like cheese in salad, but only goat’s cheese, blue cheese or feta.

I only like clear salad dressings, except for blue cheese dressing, and I only like that with iceberg.

I like fruit in salad, but not berries (unless they’re Craisins).

I’m difficult to please, which is why I make a lot of my own salad.

One thing I love in salad? Citrus. I love segmented oranges, grapefruit… whatever you’ve got, throw it on there. These blood oranges are still in season here in France, and I absolutely love the color they lend to a simple vinaigrette salad dressing. While I’m segmenting them, I reserve all the escaped juice in a bowl. I add a little bit of lemon juice, some olive oil and salt and pepper, and then toss the greens and the segments of orange in the dressing.

Of course, some goat cheese croutons helped.

This is my entry for Eating with the Seasons, a blogging event that encourages bloggers to explore seasonal foods in their country of origin. The event is hosted by Maninas, and you have until the 20th to participate!

Blood Orange Salad with Goat Cheese Croutons

mixed winter lettuces
4 blood oranges, segmented, juice reserved
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. lemon juice
salt and pepper
six rounds of baguette (this time, I used a country-style bread and cut it into squares)
six thin rounds of goat cheese (if you can get the runny kind with a rind that I used, it’s really worth it)

Set your oven to broil, and assemble the goat cheese croutons. Place them on a baking sheet and broil until the cheese has melted. Meanwhile, segment the oranges.
Combine the reserved orange juice, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper in the bottom of your serving bowl. Whisk together.

When ready to serve, add the lettuces and orange segments and toss. Place the croutons on top and serve immediately.