Recipe - Herbed Goat Cheese Roasted Beet And Watercress Salad

4 md Beets; scrubbed and trimmed,
leaving about 1inch of
stems attached

FOR VINAIGRETTE
1 One fourth teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoon White wine vinegar
One fourth teaspoon Dried tarragon; crumbled
One fourth teaspoon Salt
One fourth teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
One fourth cup Plus 2 tablespoons extra
virgin olive oil

FOR HERBED GOAT CHEESE
Three fourths cup Fresh bread crumbs
One half teaspoon Dried tarragon; crumbled
Three fourths teaspoon Salt
1/8 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
8 ounce Montrachet or other soft
goat cheese, cut into eight
1/2inch rounds and
chilled, covered
2 bn Watercress; coarse stems
discarded, rinsed and spun
dry (about 8 cups)
1 small Red onion; cut or sliced up thin

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Wrap beets tightly in foil and roast in middle of oven 1 to 1 One half hours, or
until tender. Unwrap beets carefully and cool until they can be handled.
Discard stems and peel beets. Beets may be prepared up to this point 1 day
ahead and chilled, covered. Cut each beet into 8 wedges and cover.

To make vinaigrette:

In a blender blend together mustard, vinegar, tarragon, salt, and pepper.
With motor running add oil in a stream and blend until emulsified.
Vinaigrette may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.

Make herbed goat cheese:

In a bowl stir together bread crumbs, tarragon, salt and pepper. Cut each
cheese round in half crosswise. Coat each piece of cheese evenly with crumb
mixture, pressing gently, and transfer to a baking sheet. Goat cheese may
be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead and chilled, covered loosely. Let
cheese come to room temperature before proceeding.

Preheat broiler. Broil goat cheese about 2 inches form heat until crumbs
are lightly browned, about 2 minutes. In a bowl, toss watercress and onion
with half of vinaigrette. Arrange watercress mixture, beets, and goat
cheese on 8 salad plates and drizzle remaining vinaigrette over beets.

Yield: 8 servings

Recipe by: Cooking Live Show #CL9004

Posted to MCRecipe Digest V1 #905 by "Angele and Jon Freeman"
jfreeman@comteck.com on Nov 12, 1997