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Goat cheese salad with balsamico butter

Goat cheese salad with balsamico butter

A luxurious and filling vegetarian salad with gratinated goat cheese topped with toasted pumpkin seeds and balsamico butter. This recipe is so simple that it almost prepares itself!
March 26 2018 recipe by , photo by Frida Ström, nutritional review by in Recipes, Appetizer, Lunch, Meal

Goat cheese salad with balsamico butter

A luxurious and filling vegetarian salad with gratinated goat cheese topped with toasted pumpkin seeds and balsamico butter. This recipe is so simple that it almost prepares itself!
USMetric
2 servingservings

Ingredients

  • 10 oz. 280 g goat cheese
  • ¼ cup (1¼ oz.) 60 ml (33 g) pumpkin seeds
  • 2 oz. 55 g butter
  • 1 tbsp 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 3 oz. (2¾ cups) 85 g (650 ml) baby spinach
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Instructions

Instructions are for 2 servings. Please modify as needed.

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Put slices of goat cheese in a greased baking dish and bake in the oven for 10 minutes.
  3. While the goat cheese is in the oven, toast pumpkin seeds in a dry frying pan over fairly high temperature until they get some color and start to pop.
  4. Lower the heat, add butter and let simmer until it turns a golden brown color and a pleasant nutty scent. Add balsamic vinegar and let boil for a few more minutes. Turn off the heat.
  5. Spread out baby spinach on a plate. Place the cheese on top and add the balsamico butter.

Tip!

This dish can easily be customized to be served as an appetizer. Buy a smaller version of the goat cheese that you cut into slices and gratinate the same way just for a shorter period of time. They are ready when they get some color on the top.

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💬 Have you tried this recipe?

What did you think? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below!

27 comments

  1. 1
    amy
    March 30 2018
    This was DELICIOUS!!!!! I put goat cheese crumbles in the air fryer for 5 minutes at 390 degrees.
    Reply: #2
  2. 2
    Reply to comment #1 by amy
    Jill Wallentin Team Diet Doctor
    April 4 2018
    I'm so glad you liked it! :)
  3. 3
    Courtney
    May 21 2018
    So I really like this salad. If using the recipe during a 20:4 fast can I make this larger to be a one meal? Or do I stick with this serving?
  4. 4
    Liz
    August 24 2018
    I didn’t think I was going to like this salad, main,y because I’m not keen on vinegar, but the acidity was cooked off, leaving a lovely savoury flavour. I can think of other uses for these pumpkin seeds sprinkled on soup for one. The soft cheese with the crunchy seeds was really delicious. I think next time that I’ll use a firmer goat’s cheese. I chose a soft one and it was almost liquid after cooking!
  5. 5
    Lori
    October 7 2018
    As it is now with all the DD recipes, we went in with blind faith. And this recipe did not fail. What a delicious, simple salad. I had no idea what the roasted goat cheese would turn out to be, but it will forever more be baked before placed on anything from here on it. And a dressing of roasted pumpkin seeds, butter and balsamic. Who'da thought! Well done DD!
  6. 6
    D
    November 11 2018
    could i make this dish in advance?
    Reply: #7
  7. 7
    Reply to comment #6 by D
    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
    November 12 2018
    Yes, you could make this in advance.
  8. 8
    Susie
    December 28 2018
    OMG!!!! Had this recipe in my favourites for ages but was a bit unsure as I'm not a fan of balsamic vinegar. The best salad I think I have ever had. I used a firm goats cheese. This is going to be a regular on my dinner plate. I have ingredients left over. Do I keep them all seperate untill I want to have it again, and reheat?
    Reply: #9
  9. 9
    Reply to comment #8 by Susie
    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
    December 29 2018
    Yes, that is a good decision as it will help keep the spinach from wilting.
  10. 10
    Ray
    January 29 2019
    This was really quite amazing... I have been making an avocado, chicken, spinach, goat cheese , and pumpkin seed salad with vinaigrette for years. I knew I was in for a surprise using butter as the base for a balsamic vinaigrette, but I didn't expect such an explosion of flavor. I love serving an upscale salad like this as a side , with salmon, chicken, or even steak.
  11. 11
    Natalie
    May 1 2019
    Is brie an ok substitute? I have a wedge of it in the fridge and would love to find a way to use it.
    Reply: #12
  12. 12
    Reply to comment #11 by Natalie
    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
    May 1 2019

    Is brie an ok substitute? I have a wedge of it in the fridge and would love to find a way to use it.

    They are very different in terms of taste and texture but if it suits your preferences then it's fine!

  13. 13
    Connie
    July 6 2019
    Love your site. I have a question regarding spinach. Why is it necessary to restrict the amount of spinach in this recipe and others. From what I can find 40 g of spinach only yields about 1/2 gram of net carbs. Thanks for helping us all on our journey for optimal health.
    Reply: #14
  14. 14
    Reply to comment #13 by Connie
    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
    July 7 2019

    Love your site. I have a question regarding spinach. Why is it necessary to restrict the amount of spinach in this recipe and others. From what I can find 40 g of spinach only yields about 1/2 gram of net carbs. Thanks for helping us all on our journey for optimal health.

    You can enjoy a larger portion if you choose.

  15. 15
    Daniela
    January 29 2020
    I burned the pumpkin seeds :/
  16. 16
    Maria
    February 6 2020
    I’m always a little bit scared to attempt something new but this dish was so amazing and so easy. Both me and hubby loved it, going to a regular on my menu plan. Thank you DD
  17. 17
    Lara
    February 28 2020
    What kind of goat cheese do you use? The photograph looks a bit like a brie, but then in the comments it says brie is quite different than the cheese you used. A lot of goat cheese I'm familiar with is very soft - I think would turn liquid if I headed it.
  18. 18
    Maha
    August 14 2020
    Can you use other cheeses for this recipe and does it have to be pumpkin seeds?
    Reply: #19
  19. 19
    Reply to comment #18 by Maha
    Crystal Pullen Team Diet Doctor
    August 14 2020

    Can you use other cheeses for this recipe and does it have to be pumpkin seeds?

    Maha, you can try other cheeses, but I can't imagine they would have the same taste or consistency as goat cheese. You might try slivered almonds, but truly the flavor combination is stunning as the recipe is written.

  20. 20
    Megan
    October 13 2020
    I tried this twice and burned the pumpkin seeds both times. Help! :(
    Reply: #21
  21. 21
    Reply to comment #20 by Megan
    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
    October 14 2020

    I tried this twice and burned the pumpkin seeds both times. Help! :(

    Try lowering the temperature.

  22. 22
    Shelli
    February 24 2021
    Instead of the goat cheese, I used feta cheese. It is now my favorite salad! Love it!
  23. 23
    Ana
    June 27 2021
    Absolutely delicious salad. I've made this before and always love it. I use the Atkins.ca site just to keep tabs on what I ate and exercise, etc.. I like to add all the recipes by the site to make sure that I get the correct nutrients, since the stuff we get here in Canada is different from what we can get in the US or Europe. This recipes came out as 10gr. carbs -the goat cheese is 1gr carb per ounce and this recipes uses 5gr, cheese per person, I get way more than 3gr carbs per portion. Still worth it though.
    Ana
    Reply: #25
  24. 24
    Ana
    June 27 2021
    Above, I mean the recipe uses 5 ounces of cheese per person.
  25. 25
    Reply to comment #23 by Ana
    Crystal Pullen Team Diet Doctor
    June 28 2021

    Absolutely delicious salad. I've made this before and always love it. I use the Atkins.ca site just to keep tabs on what I ate and exercise, etc.. I like to add all the recipes by the site to make sure that I get the correct nutrients, since the stuff we get here in Canada is different from what we can get in the US or Europe. This recipes came out as 10gr. carbs -the goat cheese is 1gr carb per ounce and this recipes uses 5gr, cheese per person, I get way more than 3gr carbs per portion. Still worth it though.
    Ana

    As you noted, the carb counts in ingredients will vary by brand. I am glad you enjoy this one!

  26. 26
    Lizzy
    February 20
    Oh my gosh this was incredible. Hubby and I looked at it rather doubtfully but straight from the 1st bite our minds were changed. The combination of flavours and textures worked wonderfully. Def a favourite
    Reply: #27
  27. 27
    Reply to comment #26 by Lizzy
    Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor
    February 21

    Oh my gosh this was incredible. Hubby and I looked at it rather doubtfully but straight from the 1st bite our minds were changed. The combination of flavours and textures worked wonderfully. Def a favourite

    Great! So glad you both love it!

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