Spring Greens with Candied Meyer Lemons and Spicy Fried Goat Cheese.
You guys. I’ve hit a new low. I mean high. Maybe both.
Candy on a salad!
Well, sort of.
I have gone nutso over candied citrus since my cousin Lacy and I first made these candied citrus peels for the holidays a few years ago. I am telling you… it’s like once you pop, you just can’t stop. That stuff is addictive. And meyer lemon season is one of my favorite seasons – even though I can only find these babies for like 23 seconds every year – because CANDIED meyer lemon is to die for. It’s totally worth it. I might like it more than grapefruit. Maybe.
And don’t be freaked out about eating whole slices!
I mean, if you really want to freak out. Last year I put them ON A PIZZA.
You can do it. I promise.
This is my early year version of this autumn arugula salad, but with spring things. Obviously.
Since I barely know what a salad is without cheese, I pan fried a little goat cheese – goat cheese that is crusted in breadcrumbs and crushed hot pepper flakes. Crushed. I love the word crushed.
Crispy goat cheese was one of the first things I put on a salad that made it on to this blog way back in the day. Ohhhh the embarrassment. In this recipe, it’s tangy with a little heat. The perfect compliment to the sticky and sweet lemon rounds.
This whole shebang is also one of those salads that doesn’t seem super filling but surprisingly is. It’s tossed in a honey, champagne and ginger vinaigrette which is my new favorite five second dressing. Of course. All good things come with a slice of bread though, so you should probably do that.
Oh and let’s talk about how I was so thrilled to share this springlike salad with you and then it started snowing. And icing. And being all 19 degrees below zero today and what not. Perhaps I should just cook a big fat Thanksgiving dinner and I’ll be rewarded with summer?
Spring Greens with Candied Meyer Lemons and Spicy Fried Goat Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 meyer lemons, sliced into 1/4 inch rounds (I prefer organic when eating the rind)
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups water
- 2/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 (8-ounce) goat cheese log, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 8 cups spring greens
- 1 pint grape tomatoes, quartered
- 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted
honey ginger vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup champagne vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- 1 garlic clove, freshly grated
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/3 cup olive oil
Instructions
- Carefully remove any large seed from the lemon slices. Add the water and sugar to a saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, whisking until the sugar dissolves. Once boiling, add the lemon slices and reduce the heat to medium low or just until it’s simmering. Cover the pan with a piece of parchment paper and simmer until the lemon peels are translucent, about 30 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the slices to cool completely in the syrup. Once cooled, transfer them to a wire rack and allow to dry completely. You can save the syrup and store it in the fridge.
- In a bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, garlic powder and pepper flakes. To make the goat cheese, heat a skillet over medium heat and add olive oil. Dip each goat cheese slice in the beaten egg then into the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere. Place the goat cheese in the hot oil and cook until golden on both sides but not melted, about 1 minute per side. Carefully remove and set aside.
- Assemble the salad by tossing the greens with some dressing. Add in the tomatoes and walnuts, tossing once more. Place the candied lemon slices and goat cheese on top. Serve with extra dressing if desired.
honey ginger vinaigrette
- Combine vinegar, honey, ginger, garlic, salt and pepper in a large bowl and whisk together. Stream in the olive oil while constantly whisking until the dressing comes together. Store in the fridge for up to one week.
Notes
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Um. That cheese. hello.
69 Comments on “Spring Greens with Candied Meyer Lemons and Spicy Fried Goat Cheese.”
Fried goat cheese and lemons? Sounds awesome!
Beautiful salad! I ALSO love meyer lemons. I have such a hard time finding them…but when I do, it makes my whole day! Anything with goat cheese is on my favs list…but this spicy version sounds (and looks) delicious. Oozy in the best way possible. YUM.
fried goat cheese is so freaking good… must make asap
Fried goat cheese = best salad EVER
Mmm! my kind of Smart thinking Thursday salad. Enough of a party for Friday but still sensational enough for a mid week meal. Delicious!
This looks Ahhh-mazing! Can’t wait to try it.
Also, your inspiration board is where I would like to live currently – hence the constant re-pinning! Love.It.
This looks to DIE for!! I love seeing nice springy ingredients popping up on my favourite food blogs – it gives me hope that winter will eventually end! And candied citrus – I’ve never done it but you’ve piqued my interest. Add it to my to do list!
Oooh, haven’t candied meyer lemons before! You should lightly frying lemons (similar to calamari). It sounds weird, but it is amazing! One of my fave restaurants in DC does that and serves it on a fried platter of sorts with lots of other goodies.
This looks delicious!
*try (ugh).
I’m crazy for salad too and am excited to (maybe) see more salad recipes pop up on here!! You always make my favorite creations…
This salad is like a breath of fresh air. It’s not your fault the weather hasn’t caught up to what’s going on in your kitchen.
Candied meyer lemons AND fried goat cheese…I want this! Pinned :)
This is the first time ever that salad for breakfast has sounded appealing. Well done. (Now if only I had some lemons to candy.)
Candied + Fried Cheese + Salad. Are you cooking the secret to world peace???
Why have I never tried candid lemons? This salad looks like all kind of awesome!
You had me at fried goat cheese-yum!
I love making candied citrus. Chocolate cover chocolate orange peels…best holiday gift ever.
The flavors of this salad sound really delicious.
Love that way that fried goat cheese looks! If there were always candied things on salads I would totally eat them more often. Like everyday!
I am sitting here swooning over the goat cheese patties.
FRIED goat cheese? Whoa.
wait, what what? Candied meyer lemons on a pizza?! gah…
this salad looks delicious btw. I love fried goat cheese, but it’s 20 degrees outside and i’m psychologically not ready for salad yet!
Dat cheeeeeeze.
THAT GOAT CHEESE. Dying over here. It looks heavenly.
This looks super delicious! Love deep-fried goat’s cheese- definitely need to make this!
Sign me up for THIS!! I love this candied lemon idea.
I want to bathe in that fried goat cheese, you perfect betch.
This looks faaaaaaantastic, and is seriously beautiful! I’d be all over it.
I need that fried goat cheese. Like, yesterday.
You had me at fried goat cheese. :)
So beautiful! I’ve been on such a mixed greens kick, and salads with a bit of fruit just make me so happy. Color, zest, zing – just the best. Yours looks delicious!
My cheeks (on my FACE, gutter-mind) totally puckered looking at those lemons. MMmmmm
There’s nothing I don’t love about this salad. You pretty much had me at goat cheese!
Oh my gosh… the lemons and the goat cheese and the ginger. Yes, please. Bring on spring!
okay…this is an oh my gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh salad! I just have to try this. Maybe it will get Spring to stop hibernating and show up in the NYC. Sick of this brick cold weather {sniffles and drops mic…lol}
Whoa hello, you had me at spicy fried goat cheese. I’m so ready for salads!
This looks great! I am always a sucker for fried cheese and cannot wait for te weather to warm up so that I can try this!
What a gorgeous salad!! I would SO go for these candied meyer lemons any day ;)
I love everything about this. Everything. I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited about salad! :D
I just died looking at this. good gracious this looks amazing!
Oh my goodness, how beautiful is this?! :) I love the lemons!
This looks amazing!!! I have to try the fried goat cheese. I live for cheese.
xo Megan, Lush to Blush
This looks freaking amazing, it is like being naughty and nice at the same time! My kind of salad ;) Pinning for later! YUM!
You had me at “spicy fried goat cheese” :)
I love how you’ve used candied peel here – stunning combination. And I love the fried goats cheese too – heavenly.
Um, fried goat cheese? You are my hero.
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I know your talented in the kitchen but I just want to say your photograohy skills are beautifully razor sharp!
this salad is the most gorgeous thing ever and I want to gobble the whole thing up.
Just gorgeous, spring salad perfection!
Wow delicious!!!
Have a good week!!! and my like in bloglovin for your post!!!:)))
Besos, desde España, Marcela♥
Salad’s are my favorite, your pics are amazing,