Although we hate to pit cheeses against each other, we have to say that a log of nice creamy goat cheese is one of our favorite delicacies. From goat cheese slices to goat cheese spreads - we love them all!

But what's one goat cheese recipe that tops our list? Crispy fried goat cheese balls. But we've decided to slightly adjust the recipe to the traditional goat cheese balls you're used to, to make it better suited to our favorite summer salad.

Don't get us wrong, we love classic goat cheese appetizers like goat cheese balls with a nice balsamic drizzle. But we've found that the goat cheese rounds shape is perfect to top our salads because it won't roll away and is easier to cut. It's also so easy to make! Just a few simple ingredients, and you've got the most delicious fried goat cheese in no time.

AND we've even found a way to make this recipe slightly healthier! We opted for our delicate Sola Stella Extra Virgin Olive Oil to fry our heavenly goat cheese discs for our salad. It's so much healthier than your typical vegetable oil, and it will make you feel a little less guilty about eating fried cheese. Plus, our Sola Stella has a high smoke point of 410 degrees Fahrenheit, so it's perfect for healthier frying!

Why not try adding some savory goat cheese bites to your summer salad? Top it off with fresh arugula, prosciutto, blackberries, and walnuts, and drizzle our delectable Blackberry Vinaigrette for a flavorful and impressive dish that will surely impress your guests.

Fried Goat Cheese with Arugula and Blackberry Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

Fried Goat Cheese:

• 11 oz log of goat cheese
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• ¼ cup all purpose flour
• Sola Stella Extra Virgin Olive Oil, to fry
• optional, garlic powder, pepper flakes, or fresh herbs to breadcrumbs

Blackberry Vinaigrette:

• 1 cup Blackberry Balsamic Vinegar
• 1 cup Super Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 medium shallot minced
• 1 teaspoon salt and black pepper
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 3 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Salad Toppings:

• 6 cups arugula
• 1 cup blackberries
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1/2 cup chopped red onions
• 1/4 cup chopped prosciutto
• flaky sea salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Put the goat cheese log in the freezer while you make your dressing (around 15 minutes)

2. Combine all ingredients for Blackberry Vinaigrette in a blender, and blend until smooth.

3. Take the goat cheese out of the freezer and slice the goat cheese log into discs that are about 1/2 inch thick.

4. Set up a breading station. In one shallow bowl, place the flour. In another small bowl, place the beaten egg. Finally, in a third bowl, spread out the panko bread crumbs.

5. Take one goat cheese disc and coat it lightly in the flour, shaking off any excess. Then dip it into the egg wash, making sure to coat it completely.

6. Transfer the coated goat cheese disc to the panko breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere the breadcrumbs to the cheese. Ensure that the disc is evenly coated with the breadcrumbs. Repeat this process with the remaining goat cheese discs.

7. Heat a frying pan or skillet over high to medium heat and add enough Sola Stella Extra Virgin Olive Oil to cover the bottom of the pan. Allow the oil to heat up for a few minutes until it shimmers.

8. Carefully place the coated goat cheese discs into the hot oil, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Fry them for about 30 seconds on each side or until they turn golden brown and crispy.

9. Once fried, use a slotted spoon or tongs to transfer the fried goat cheese to a plate lined with a paper towel. This will help absorb any excess oil.

10. Add other ingredients to the arugula salad base, top with fried goat cheese, and then drizzle your Blackberry Vinaigrette. Keep the remainder of the Blackberry Vinaigrette in an airtight container for future use.

Time to Enjoy!

We hope you love this summer salad with fried goat cheese and blackberry balsamic vinaigrette! Although we love this combination as is, the fried goat cheese can be used in so many other ways.

Serve your fried goat cheese with a drizzle of honey, some marinara sauce, or hot honey for the perfect party appetizer. It makes a great addition to any charcuterie board and is truly such an easy appetizer. You can even mix your goat cheese with other ingredients to create herb goat cheese or honey goat cheese before frying! Or you can buy a flavored goat cheese at your local grocery store, like a berry option.

Another bonus: our Blackberry Vinaigrette is made even easier to make with our recipe set! You can get the Blackberry Balsamic Vinegar and Super Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil together in one nice package. It's the perfect gift, as it even comes with a recipe card with the instructions to make this vinaigrette.

We hope you enjoy making this easy recipe, and don't forget to click below to download your own copy of your new favorite salad!

Download Recipe