Goats' Cheese Salad with Roasted Peppers & Balsamic Vinegar
There's something incredibly satisfying about a well-crafted salad, especially one that combines fresh, vibrant ingredients with rich, tangy elements. This Goats Cheese Salad Recipe is a Carluccio's favourite, bringing together the creamy tang of goats' cheese with sweet roasted peppers, peppery rocket, and a glorious dressing made with our exquisite Balsamic Vinegar. Perfect as a light lunch, an elegant starter, or a delightful side.
Beloved of our restaurant customers - and still available in our restaurants nationwide - we also wanted to share this recipe so that you can make it at home.
The Star Ingredients
Before we dive into the recipe, let's talk about the key players that make this salad truly special, particularly our renowned balsamic vinegar.
-
Creamy Goats' Cheese: We've opted for thick, generous slices of soft goats' cheese that offering a delightful salty and tangy contrast to the crisp greens and sweeter peppers.
-
Sweet Roasted Peppers: The vibrant yellow and orange peppers, beautifully roasted until tender and slightly charred, bring a natural sweetness and smoky depth to the dish.
-
Fresh Greens: A mix of peppery rocket and mixed leaves provides a fresh, slightly bitter counterpoint to the richness of the cheese and peppers.
-
Toasted Pine Nuts: These add a lovely crunch and a subtle, nutty flavour that complements the other ingredients perfectly.
-
Marinated Olives & Sun-dried Tomatoes: Our selection of marinated olives offers a briny, savoury kick, while the intensely flavourful sun-dried tomatoes provide concentrated bursts of sweetness and umami.
-
Carluccio's 5 Coin Balsamic Vinegar: This isn't just any balsamic. Our "5 Coin" (Cinque Monete) Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is a true testament to traditional Italian craftsmanship. The "coins" refer to the aged quality, with more coins indicating a longer maturation period and a richer, more complex flavour. This particular balsamic is aged for a significant period in wooden casks, developing a thick, syrupy consistency and a beautifully balanced flavour profile that's both sweet and tart, with notes of dried fruit and wood. It's truly a gourmet ingredient that elevates any dish it graces, providing a sublime depth to our dressing.
Carluccio's Goats' Cheese Salad Recipe
Serves: 2 Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 15-20 minutes
Ingredients:
-
2 large slices (approx. 80-100g each) soft goats' cheese
-
1 yellow bell pepper, deseeded and sliced into strips
-
1 orange bell pepper, deseeded and sliced into strips
-
1 cup (approx. 50g) fresh rocket leaves
-
1 cup (approx. 50g) mixed salad leaves
-
2 tablespoons Olives, halved
-
2 tablespoons Sun-dried Tomatoes in oil, drained and roughly chopped
-
2 tablespoons pine nuts
-
Olive oil, for roasting and dressing
-
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the Carluccio's Balsamic Dressing:
-
3 tablespoons Carluccio's 5 Coin Balsamic Vinegar
-
6 tablespoons Carluccio's Extra Virgin Olive Oil
-
Pinch of salt
-
Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
Instructions:
-
Roast the Peppers: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F / Gas Mark 4). Place the sliced peppers on a baking tray. Drizzle generously with olive oil, season with a pinch of salt and pepper, and toss to coat. Roast for 15-20 minutes, or until tender and slightly charred at the edges. Remove from the oven and set aside.
-
Toast the Pine Nuts: While the peppers are roasting, gently toast the pine nuts in a dry frying pan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly until golden brown and fragrant. Be careful as they can burn quickly. Remove from the pan immediately and set aside.
-
Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper until well combined and emulsified. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
-
Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, combine the rocket and mixed salad leaves. Add the roasted peppers, halved olives, and chopped sun-dried tomatoes.
-
Dress and Serve: Drizzle about half of the balsamic dressing over the salad ingredients and gently toss to coat. Divide the salad between two serving plates.
-
Final Touch: Place the goats' cheese slices on top of each salad. Scatter the toasted pine nuts over the salads. Drizzle with a little more of the balsamic dressing to finish.
Serve immediately and enjoy the delightful harmony of flavours and textures! This Goats Cheese Salad Recipe is truly a taste of Italian sunshine.
Buon appetito!
