Watercress Salad With Pears And Creamy Goat Cheese Dressing Recipes

WATERCRESS SALAD WITH ROASTED TOMATO DRESSING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Take a roasting dish and lay the tomatoes out with the garlic. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place in the oven and roast for 15 to 20 minutes until the tomatoes have burst and juices are slightly caramelized.
• Remove from the oven and place in a blender with all the pan juices. Add the red wine vinegar, 1/4 cup olive oil, sugar, parsley, and salt and pepper. Pulse until well combined. Set aside to cool in the refrigerator while you prepare the croutons.
• Take a sheet tray and lay out thin slices of the baguette. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place in the hot oven and bake until golden brown and crispy. The croutons will take 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from oven and while still warm, smear each piece with some goat cheese. Set aside.
• Take a platter and layer with goat cheese croutons. Top with mounds of feathery watercress and drizzle over the roasted tomato dressing.

WATERCRESS, PEAR AND GORGONZOLA SALAD

Steps:

• Combine the onion, mustard, vinegar, honey, lemon juice and grapeseed oil in a food processor or blender. Purée until onion is very fine. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk in olive oil.
• Rinse and dry the watercress. In a large bowl, season watercress with salt and pepper and toss with the dressing. Arrange cheese and fruit on four salad plates and top with watercress.

WATERCRESS SALAD WITH PEARS AND CREAMY GOAT CHEESE DRESSING

Steps:

• Puree 1/4 cup goat cheese, milk, hazelnut oil and lemon juice in a blender until smooth, about 1 minute.
• Season with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Cut pear in half; core.
• Thinly slice lengthwise.
• Arrange slices fanned out on 4 plates.
• Trim lower third of watercress stems.
• Toss watercress with 1/4 cup of the dressing to lightly coat.
• Mound next to pears.
• Drizzle remaining dressing over salads.
• Crumble remaining 2 tablespoons cheese over tops.
• Grind pepper to taste over salad.

BEET SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE, WATERCRESS AND SHALLOT THYME DRESSING

Steps:

• Cook beets in water to cover until tender, about 40 to 45 minutes. Drain the beets and set aside to cool.
• For the dressing, whisk together olive oil, shallot, half the lemon juice, the thyme, salt and pepper. Set aside.
• While the beets are cooling, wash the watercress and trim the thicker stems from the leaves. Spread the trimmed watercress out over some paper towels to dry.
• When the beets are cool enough to handle, use a paring knife to peel off the beets skins, they should come off very easily.
• Cut the beets into quarters lengthwise and then those pieces in half crosswise.
• Place the beets and watercress in separate bowls. Divide the dressing between the 2 bowls. Toss the watercress and beets until evenly coated with the dressing.
• Spread the watercress out on a serving platter to make a bed for the beets. Crumble the cold cheese into the beets and toss gently. Spread the beets over the bed of watercress and sprinkle with remaining lemon juice. Serve immediately.

BALSAMIC GOAT CHEESE SALAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Throw everything in the blender/food processor/hand-held immersion blender(mine has an attachment with a cup and lid, so I don't even need another container).
• Blend until everything is combined.
• Use right away or store in a jar in the fridge. You may need to give it a good shake just before using if you let it sit in the fridge for a few days.