This thanksgiving goat cheese salad is a great starter to your Thanksgiving meal this Fall season! It is light, refreshing, yet bursting with lots of flavors and textures.
Like I mentioned in the homemade sourdough croutons post, my family is known for their salads. We love having salads full of so many different flavors at all of our family dinners. They are a staple.
With that being said, my husband and I were invited to dinner and a friend’s house over the weekend, and I offered to make something. I was tasked with a salad. Right up my alley! So, I made this goat cheese salad. While it wasn’t Thanksgiving, it was still very much of a hit! So much so that their almost two-year-old kept wanting more of it! I think that says a lot.
A good salad has lots of different flavors and textures. This Thanksgiving goat cheese salad is a great example of that. There are textures of creaminess, crunchiness, and softness.
A salad is a great way to start off a meal. To get your pallet warmed up to the yummy meal before you. As well as, enjoy each other’s company and have good conversation over something that is easy to eat.
Best Kinds of Dressing for This Thanksgiving Goat Cheese Salad
- Maple Balsamic Dressing – I love a good maple flavored dressing. Especially in the season of Fall and Thanksgiving. Add a bit of sweetness but also tanginess with this maple balsamic dressing. This would pair beautifully with the pairs in the salad.
- Blueberry Vinaigrette – Another fruity dressing to wow your guests with. This blueberry vinaigrette is made with fresh blueberries and all the things a good dressing consists of.
- Avocado Herb Dressing – You can never go wrong with a creamy and fresh tasting dressing. This avocado herb dressing uses a whole avocado and flat lead parsley!
- Italian Dressing – A classic Italian dressing is where it is at. So versatile for all kinds of salads! You may just want to prep a big jar of this.
Tips to Make the Best Thanksgiving Goat Cheese Salad
To get the best salad, use fresh ingredients. Be at a store where you can hand pick your lettuce and pairs. Even better, support locally if you can!
Along with using fresh ingredients, use high quality goat cheese. I love the logs of goat cheese. Sometimes there are even fun flavors out there of different kinds of goat cheeses! I have used a blueberry goat cheese before that was SO good!
Lastly, pour the salad dressing of choice on the salad just before serving. The last thing you want to do is pour on the dressing before you leave for your dinner, and by the time you get there the lettuce is all wilted and the dressing is sat at the bottom of the dish. I like making my dressing in a jar that I can take with me to the dinner that guests can individually pour their own dressing. That way, they can control what they want. Also, if there are any leftovers, you can take it home and not have soggy salad when you go to eat it again.
FAQs
How do you cut goat cheese for salads?
Goat cheese is a great cheese to simply crumble. Using your fingers, break it apart and crumble it all over the salad so it is evenly dispersed. You can even use a knife to “chip” it as another way to crumble it.
Can you eat cold goats cheese?
Cold goat cheese would be great and so refreshing on a salad. Although, when cheese is at room temperature, the flavor somehow enhances even more, and it is even better. Both are great options!
What is the difference between goat cheese and feta?
When it comes to the difference of goat cheese and feta, a lot depends on what you pair the cheeses with. Feta cheese is great in Greek salads. However, goat cheese pairs so well with dried fruits, crunchy nuts because of the cheese’s creaminess, as well as seeds. This Thanksgiving salad has 2 out of 3 of those things.
Ingredients
Red Leaf Lettuce
Goat Cheese
Dried Craisins
Fresh Pears
Pecans
White Onion
Tools You May Need
Large Bowl or Platter
Cutting Board
Knife
Measuring Cups
How to Make Thanksgiving Goat Cheese Salad Step-by-Step
I love having all of my ingredients prepped before I assemble. So, firstly, let’s prep the ingredients. Start by breaking up or chopping the red leaf lettuce into more manageable pieces to eat. As well as slicing the pears and white onion thinly and chipping the goat cheese.
Next, layer the chopped red leaf lettuce into your desired serving dish. On top of the lettuce, add the thinly sliced white onions. Then sprinkle on the pecans. Arrange the sliced pears as desired. I did mine in groups of 3 throughout the salad. Sprinkle on the craisins to add a beautiful pop of red, all followed by the chipped goat cheese.
Just before serving, top with dressing, and enjoy!
Thanksgiving Goat Cheese Salad
This Thanksgiving goat cheese salad is full of all the festive flavors and colors. Not to mention, so many amazing textures - creaminess, crunchiness, and chewiness. You are definitely going to want to make this for your Thanksgiving meal!
Ingredients
- 2 heads red leaf lettuce, chopped
- 1/3 cup craisins
- 1 cup pecans, chopped
- 1 small white onion, thinly sliced
- 2 pears, thinly sliced
- 4 ounces goat cheese, goat cheese log
Instructions
- To start, lets prep the ingredients. Chop up the washed and dried red leaf lettuce into manageable bite sized pieces that are easy to eat. Then, thinly slice the white onion and pears. As well as chopping the pecans in half. 2 heads red leaf lettuce, 1 cup pecans, 1 small white onion, 2 pears
- Once the ingredients are prepped, it is time to assemble! In the desired serving dish, layer the chopped red leaf lettuce. Then, add on the thinly sliced white onion. On top of the onion, add the chopped pecans. Arrange the thinly sliced pears as desired.
- Finish off the salad by sprinkling the craisins on and chipping the goat cheese and sprinkling that around the whole salad as well. 1/3 cup craisins, 4 ounces goat cheese
- Just before it is time to serve the salad, top with the dressing of choice.
- Enjoy!
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