A simple cool crisp arugula salad with sliced red onion, fresh lemon juice, and *e.v.o.o. is perfect by itself. Now, when you top the salad with my warm herb-crusted goat cheese medallions, that takes the salad to a whole new level. Really delicious and simple to make. Let me show how I make these little gems. This is my Arugula Salad With Herb Crusted Goat Cheese Medallions.

Steve brought home a pound of fresh sea scallops. He asked me if I would pan sear a few of them for his salad. You know how it is, he just couldn’t wait to eat them which gave me the idea to add three seared sea scallops to each one of the salads.

Below are my new garlic chives!

Yields: 4 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: approx. 10 minutes.
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yields: 4 servings
Equipment: 2 rimmed baking sheet pans, parchment paper, large mixing bowl, 4 porcelain salad bowls, 2 (12-inch) non-stick sauté pans

Ingredients For Arugula Salad:
2 (4-ounce) packages of baby arugula or mixed greens, pre-washed
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced into half-moons
3 lemons, juiced, 2 tablespoons per salad
4 tablespoons of *E.V.O.O, 2 tablespoons per salad
Kosher salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 large pink grapefruits, *supremed (optional)

Note:  This next section is totally optional. Remove the connective tissue from each one of the scallops. Dry scallops really well before cooking.

12 large sea scallops
1 tablespoon of olive oil
2 tablespoons of butter, unsalted

Directions For Seared Scallops:
In a large non-stick sauté pan, over medium-high heat, melt butter with olive oil. As soon as the butter is melted, carefully add the scallops, flat side down, into the pan in one even layer. Cook until well browned, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Using tongs, flip the scallops, and continue to cook. Using a large spoon to baste the scallops with the butter/olive oil mixture (tilt the pan so the butter/oil mixture runs to one side). Continue to cook until the sides of the scallops are firm and centers are opaque, 30 to 90 seconds longer (remove the smaller scallops as they finish cooking).

Ingredients For The Fried Goat Cheese Medallions:
2 (8-ounce) logs of goat cheese, sliced into 12 medallions 1/2-inch thick
3 large eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons of fresh garlic chives, minced (substitute chives)
2 tablespoons of Italian flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups of Panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons of butter, unsalted
1 tablespoon of olive oil

Directions:
Start by dividing evenly, into four porcelain salad bowls, the arugula, and sliced red onions. Cover each bowl with plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator to stay cold until ready to serve. *Supreme 2 large pink grapefruits. Transfer the grapefruit slices into a separate bowl, cover with plastic wrap, set aside until ready to top the salads.

The Breading:
Place the panko, chives, and Italian flat-leaf parsley into a large mixing bowl.  Mix the fresh and dried herbs evenly throughout the Panko bread crumbs.

For the egg mixture, add to a bowl, 3 eggs, Kosher salt, fresh ground black pepper, and garlic powder. Using a fork, beat the eggs and spices together. Remove the goat cheese logs from the frig and slice into 12 1/2-inch thick medallions.

Dip the medallions, a few at a time, flipping with a fork, into the seasoned egg mixture, toss to coat. Next, carefully using a fork to transfer them, two or three at a time, into the herbed Panko, using a fork to flip the medallions.

Place the breaded goat cheese onto a rimmed baking sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Once all of the medallions are breaded, place the baking sheet into the frig to chill and set for 30 minutes.

In a large sauté pan over medium heat melt butter and olive oil swishing around to coat the pan. Once melted, arrange the breaded goat cheese medallions in the pan, do not overcrowd. Spread them out giving each enough room to flip. You may need to do this in two batches. Cook the goat cheese medallions quickly on both sides until lightly browned on the outside not allowing the cheese to melt on the inside.

Note, cook just until lightly brown on both sides.

Note:  If cooking in two batches, add another tablespoon of butter and oil. Bring the melted oil and butter back up to temperature before adding in the second batch of breaded medallions.

To Serve:  Squeeze fresh lemon juice over each of the prepared salads. Sprinkle each salad with Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. Drizzle with the *E.V.O.O. over the toss. Top each with three goat cheese medallions. Finally and optional, add the *supremed grapefruit slices. Serve immediately.

There you have it, my Arugula Salad With Herb Crusted Goat Cheese Medallions.

*Supreme: Supremeing is a technique that removes the membrane from citrus fruit so it can be served in slices.
*E.V.O.O. is an acronym for Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

https://lindalouhamel.com/2019/07/10/summer-time-flowers-and-herbs/