Last Updated on December 5, 2023 by Carne Diem
Method: Stovetop
Jump to RecipeThis mixed green salad is topped with fried panko crusted Boursin cheese, mixed nuts, pears, dried cherries, and a raspberry vinaigrette. This salad with warm soft cheese, makes for an elegant starter to your meal.
Being a meat centric blog, there are not going to be a ton of salads on here, so when one is posted, you know it has to be great! This recipe combines one of our favorite homemade salad dressings and Boursin, one of our favorite soft cheeses.
Table of contents
Preparing the Fried Boursin Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette
To make this salad with warm Boursin cheese you will need to make a simple raspberry vinaigrette, fry the panko crusted Boursin, and assemble the salad.
Making the Homemade Raspberry Vinaigrette
To make the dressing, finely dice the garlic. In a salad dressing shaker, add the vinegars, olive oil, and Worcestershire Sauce. Add in the garlic, Dijon, salt, and pepper. Shake vigorously to combine.
Making the Fried Boursin
Boursin is a soft French cheese that is creamy in texture and often flavored with different herbs. We fell in love with Boursin while studying in England and ate it pretty much daily on some crunchy dinner rolls. For this recipe we recommend the garlic and fine herb version. The balsamic fig Boursin also makes an excellent choice.
First, halve the Boursin so you have 2 equal sized pucks.
Coat the Boursin with Panko, gently pressing the breadcrumbs into the cheese. Return the cheese to the refrigerator until you are ready to use it. You want the cheese chilled prior to frying it, to help prevent it from melting. Typically you will wany to chill it for at least 30 minutes prior to frying the cheese.
In a skillet, heat a thin layer of oil or grease over medium-high heat, or about 375 degrees. We really love using bacon grease for this, but oil works just as well. Fry the cheese for about 1-2 minute per side. You will want a thin spatula to flip the cheese over, so it does not fall apart. If you notice the cheese starting to melt out the sides, you will want to remove it from the heat sooner.
Assembling the Fried Boursin Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette
Now it is time to assemble your salad. Using baby spinach or mixed greens, put your lettuce in each bowl. Top it with mixed nuts such as cashews, pecans, and almonds. Add some dried cranberries (craisins) or dried cherries. Thinly slice a Bartlett pear and top your salad with it.
Finally, add your dressing and the deliciously warm, fried cheese. This salad pairs perfectly with steak such as Reverse Seared Teres Major with His and Her Sauces or Filet Mignon with Goat Cheese Sauce and Grand Marnier Sautéed Peppers, or use it as part of your mid-week Thanksgiving dinner with our Smoked Turkey Breast and Easy Stuffing recipes.
For more great salad recipes check out some of our most popular recipes here:
- Grilled Endive Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
- Grilled Panzanella Salad
- Christmas Salad With Chestnuts and Cranberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Smoked Arugula Salad With Bourbon Vinaigrette
- Grilled Corn and Goat Cheese Salad
Frequently Asked Questions
Soft cheese like Boursin and goat cheese is best fried at a temperature of about 375 degrees. This higher temperature allows the outside to brown before the middle begins to melt and become too soft.
Use a neutral flavored oil with a high smoke point for frying cheese. Good options include canola, avocado oil, sunflower oil, and grapeseed oil.
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📖 Recipe
Fried Boursin Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette
Equipment
- Skillet or pan
- Salad Shaker
Ingredients
- Fresh Baby Spinach or Mixed Greens
- Mixed Nuts
- Dried Cranberries or Cherries
- 1 Bartlett Pear thinly sliced
Raspberry Vinaigrette
- ¾ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 4 teaspoon Balsamic Vinegar
- 2 Tablespoon Raspberry White Balsamic Vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- 1 clove Garlic peeled and finely chopped
- Salt and Black Pepper to taste
Fried Boursin
- 5.2 ounce Package of Garlic and Fine Herb Boursin Cheese
- 1 cup Panko style Breadcrumbs
- Olive oil or Bacon Greece 3-6 Tablespoons depending on pan size
Instructions
Raspberry Vinaigrette
- Finely dice the garlic.
- In a salad dressing shaker, add the vinegars, olive oil, and Worcestershire Sauce. Add in the garlic, Dijon, salt, and pepper. Shake vigorously to combine.
Fried Boursin
- Halve the cheese into 2 equal sized pucks.
- Coat the Boursin with Panko, gently pressing the bread crumbs into the cheese. Return the cheese to the refrigerator until you are ready to use it. You want the cheese chilled prior to frying it, to help prevent it from melting.
- Heat the oil or bacon grease over medium-high heat and fry the chilled Boursin for 1-2 minutes per side. If the cheese starts melting out the sides remove from the heat.
Salad
- Assemble the salad by combining your greens in a bowl with the nuts, dried berries, and sliced pear.
- Top the salad with the warm fried Boursin and the raspberry vinaigrette.
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