Steak Salad with Goat Cheese and Red Onions – I was not going to blog about this since it was so easy, but I have a different point to make. When you cook in small portions you end up with leftover ingredients and so not to waste you need to keep in mind a plan B. I made chicken with goat cheese and roasted tomatoes. I still had a half log of goat cheese left over. What to do? You can’t leave it in the back of the refrigerator until it starts to look like a science experiment. If you are like me, after you have some dish, no matter how good, no matter how you enjoyed it, after feasting on it and maybe having a second go-round with the leftovers, it may be a while before it comes up in dinner rotation again. However, with some toasted walnuts my goat cheese took on a different taste. It was new again, and no waste. It became Steak Salad with Goat Cheese and Red Onions.
I toasted some chopped walnuts and rolled little mini balls of goat cheese in those nuts. I took out some hangar steaks, and a small red onion. Warning, it should have been a bigger onion. Organic salad greens were on sale this week, buy one, get one so now it all seemed meant to be.
While the steak was coming to room temperature I made vinaigrette. You can read about my salad making epiphany that I spoke about before. No need to ever buy a bottle of dressing again. And you don’t have to be middle age a woman of a certain age to learn this rule.
I used hangar steak because it is quick and tender and it was on sale. Mostly it is used for fajitas. Use any steak of your choice. Just be sure to bring it to room temperature, pat it dry, season, cook it hot, leave it be, don’t poke at it so it will develop maillard, a cheffy term for browning; then let it rest before you cut into it.
In the hot skillet toss in some sliced red onions. Cook until they softened and start to caramelize. Deglaze with a little wine or balsamic vinegar, or chicken stock if you have it.
So tell me, what is your Plan B? Do you have one? Do you need one? Do you have extra ingredients left over from a recipe? How do you incorporate them into your repertoire?
- Vinaigrette – 2;1 ratio of vinegar and oil – add a teaspoon of Dijon/herb/honey
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- 2 handful salad greens
- 2 oz. goat cheese
- 2 tablespoons walnuts- chopped and toasted
- 2 – 6 to oz. Steak of your choice
- Olive oil
- 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, or wine, or chicken stock
- 1 red onion
- Mise en place ~ gather ingredients.
- Chill your salad plates.
- Wash and dry your greens – you don’t know where they have been.
- Mix vinaigrette – 2:1 ratio
- Toast walnuts.
- Take a small amount of goat cheese; roll into cooled toasted walnuts; set aside.
- Heat a heavy bottom skillet; add olive oil.
- Add steak; let it alone for a few minutes. It will turn loose of the skillet when it is browned and ready to be turned; turn and brown other side.
- Remove and let rest to give the juices time to reabsorb.
- Add onions; sauté until soft; deglaze with wine, or balsamic vinegar, or chicken broth.
- Dress salad greens with vinaigrette.
- Cut steak on bias; place on top of dressed greens; add onions, then goat cheese.
- Enjoy.
I am taking this to
Caramelized onions give such incredible flavor to any dish and your salad sounds splendid with the steak and goat cheese. I applaud you for coming up with Plan B for left-overs. It’s a shame to throw away food and I need to be more diligent about it.
Sam
This sounds so good! I would love it if you would share this on my Tasty Tuesday linky party!
http://www.thecomfortsofhome.blogspot.com/2014/03/tasty-tuesday-1.html
I always have leftover ingredients! And sometimes, alas, they do end up looking like a science experiment! Not often, but it happens. Love how you’ve used the leftover goat cheese. Good stuff — thanks.
Thanks John. I am trying to do better and have a back up plan, but it doesn’t always happen here either. Thanks for stopping by.
Madonna, This sounds great. I love walnuts with goat cheese or bleu cheese. The addition of the steak turns this into a substantial dish. Thanks for sharing, Ginger
Yes, bleu cheese would be wonderful and pairs with steak and onions, but the goat cheese went well and I wanted to use it while it was fresh. Thanks for stopping by Ginger – nice to hear from you.
I love new salad recipes and this one is right up my alley!
Katerina, I hope you will give it a try.
I love the simplicity of this salad. I am glad you posted on the Friday link up. I always have leftovers and I like how this recipe will help me use some up.
It is very simple, but oh so good. Thank you for stopping by Sandi.
I have made some delicious meals with little bits of leftover this and that. Steak salad is a huge favorite in my house. Love your addition of the walnuts and caramelized onions and I agree about using homemade dressing. There is nothing better than a good salad.
Thanks Cathy. The steak and onion was pretty good. I hope you will give it a try.
I love goat cheese. I will be trying this recipe soon!
Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
I hope you will give it a try. Thanks for stopping by Susan.
I eat a salad everyday for lunch, Madonna, and this looks exceptionally wonderful. Caramelized onions with the goat cheese and steak is a perfect combo! You share the best recipes. I’d like to share that I do freeze goat cheese in portions, when I buy it at Costco, and it seems to work out ok for me.
Thanks so much Kitty. I try really hard to only post about things I would like or what I would like to feed company. I did not know you could freeze goat cheese. I will keep that in mind for the future. I hate to waste food.
Im always looking for a different way to mix up my salads! THanks for sharing at The Weekend Retreat! Hope to see you back on Thursday!
Your salad looks delicious! So glad I found you at Paula’s Marvelous Monday party!
Thanks for stopping by Becca.
What a great spring salad, this looks delicious! Thank you so much for coming to the party today and sharing with Full Plate Thursday. Have a great week and come back soon!
Miz Helen
We had steak and onions last night for dinner and there is some left. Now I know what I’ll have as lunch today.
Oh Karen, I hope you like it. Give those onions a splash of balsamic and it makes everything taste good.
Delicious salad with the red onions ~ walnuts ~ and goat cheese – terrific entree for dinner! Thanks for sharing this on your #simplybebetsy gallery – YUM!
Sharon and Denise
Some of my favorites in this salad! Looks delicicious! Smart too!
Thanks Jacqueline. I hope you will give it a try.
An inspired salad! Love the addition of caramelized onions!
Thanks for stopping by Michael. The caramelized onion give it a lot of flavor. I hope you will give it a try.
Yum, thanks for the recipe and Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty
Wonderful recipe. I’ve made this with bleu cheese and loved it. Your vinaigrette sounds great, too!
XO,
Jane
Jane, I used the goat cheese because that is what I had, but by all means use bleu, it pairs well with steak. Thanks for stopping by.
I love bleu cheese! Thanks for bringing your creativity to Seasonal Sundays.
– Alma, The Tablescaper
Alma, please feel free to use bleu. Both pair well with steak and salad. Thanks for visiting.
Looks YUMMY! Thanks so much for sharing at Amaze Me Monday…
Blessings,
Cindy
This looks sooo good! Thank you for sharing. You will be one of the features tomorrow at the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Also, I have a new address: http://www.thededicatedhouse.com Hope to see you again at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse