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WW Recipe of the Day: Warm Goat Cheese and Fig Salad
It took me all of ten seconds to decide I should attempt a warm goat cheese salad for this month’s Recipe Redux’s Most Memorable Vacation Meal challenge.
Even though it’s been more than a decade, I can still see and taste the original warm goat cheese and fig salad on which this one is based. It just goes to show how powerful food memories can be!
So, where did this food memory take place? In a fancy restaurant?
Nope.
In a food court. Not just any food court, but the Galeries Lafayette department store food hall, a cross between a gourmet supermarket and food court, in the heart of Paris.
I was taking part in a weeklong culinary vacation, called “Unpolished Paris” that forever changed my relationship with food. It was on this trip I vowed to never again settle for tasteless, over-processed diet food. Life is too short and delicious real food too wonderful!
And to try to live my life more like the the slim and elegant French ladies I saw everywhere.
Recipe Notes
The flavors and textures of that warm fig and goat cheese salad delighted me in a way food never had done before. It was one of many food memories created that week, for which I am forever grateful.
Up until then I only knew of figs from my beloved fig newtons.
This is my interpretation—as best as I can recall and recreate it—with the ingredients available. I enjoyed this warm fig and goat cheese salad for lunch today and was immediately transported back to that Paris department store lunch counter…
How Many Calories and WW Points in this Warm Goat Cheese and Fig Salad?
According to my calculations, each salad has about 349 calories.
To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
9 SmartPoints (Green plan)
9 SmartPoints (Blue plan)
9 SmartPoints (Purple plan)
6 PointsPlus (Old plan)
How to Make Fig Salad Dressing
Simply whisk together four everyday ingredients—1 Tbsp + 1 tsp olive oil, 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp balsamic vinegar, 2 tsp water and 1/4 tsp Dijon mustard—in a small bowl (affiliate link), to make this salad dressing.
If you’ve made this Warm Fig and Goat Cheese Salad, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Warm Fig and Goat Cheese Salad Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1 tablespoon plus, 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon plus, 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons water
- 1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salad
- 8 small fresh figs, divided
- 3 ounces soft goat cheese
- 4 large handfuls of arugula
- 1-1/2 tablespoons chopped toasted walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat the oven or toaster oven to broil and line a small baking pan with foil.
- While the oven preheats prepare the dressing by whisking together in a small bowl (affiliate link), the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, water and Dijon mustard.
- Remove the tiny top stems from the figs.
- Cut 4 of the figs into quarters from top to bottom, slicing almost but not all the way through, leaving the fig attached at the base. Place them on the prepared baking pan and spread them open.
- Place a teaspoon of goat cheese in the center of each fig.
- Slice the other 4 figs into thin rounds.
- Broil the figs and goat cheese for a few minutes, until the cheese begins to bubble and turn lightly golden. (Check them often to prevent melting/burning.)
- While the figs and cheese are broiling, toss the arugula with the dressing and divide them among 2 salad plates.
- Arrange the sliced figs and dollops of remaining goat cheese on top of the arugula.
- When ready, place two broiled figs on each salad and sprinkle with nuts. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper and serve immediately.
Notes
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) 9 SmartPoints (Green plan) 9 SmartPoints (Blue plan) 9 SmartPoints (Purple plan) 6 PointsPlus (Old plan) To make the salad dressing: Simply whisk together four everyday ingredients—1 Tbsp + 1 tsp olive oil, 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp balsamic vinegar, 2 tsp water and 1/4 tsp Dijon mustard— in a small bowl.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I love this recipe … and I want to take that Paris food tour. You’re so lucky. My hubby loves goat cheese, and so do I. I’ll definitely give this recipe a try.
Thanks, Liz. If you and your hubby both love goat cheese, this is the salad for you! My brother made it for dinner last night and said he really enjoyed it too.