BLT Salad With Creamy Goat Cheese Dressing

This salad is my farewell to summer. And no, that doesn’t mean we won’t continue to eat salads for the rest of the season, but this salad is everything I love about the summer season and I felt like if I was going to post a salad “recipe” this had to be it! It’s chock full of so many fresh ingredients and is something you should make before tomato season is over. Between the sweet cherry tomatoes, crispy bacon, toasted bread crumbs, and creamy dressing, this is my kind of salad. It’s filling, delicious, and a breeze to prepare. Bonus: you can probably buy all the ingredients (including dressing ingredients) at your local farmers market. I hope you all enjoy this tasty number as much as we do. Grab a fork and dig in!

Ingredients

For the Salad

• 3 strips of bacon, chopped
• 2 cups sourdough bread, torn into bite-size pieces
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 1 head of lettuce, washed and torn into bite-size pieces
• 1/2 of a small red onion, thinly sliced
• A few sprigs of basil, torn
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

For the Dressing

• 4 ounces goat cheese, at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Pinch of salt and pepper

Directions

Prepare the Ingredients

1. Preheat the Oven:
   Set your oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Fry the Bacon:
   Cook the chopped bacon in a large cast-iron (or ovenproof) skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and drain it on a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve the bacon grease in the skillet.

Make the Croutons

1. Toast the Bread:
   Add the torn pieces of bread to the skillet with the reserved bacon grease. If necessary, add a bit more olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then toss to coat.
2. Bake the Croutons:
   Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake until the bread is toasted and lightly crisp, about 15-18 minutes. Toss the bread pieces a few times during baking to ensure even crisping.

Assemble the Salad

1. Prepare the Vegetables:
   In a large salad bowl, combine the torn lettuce leaves, sliced red onion, torn basil, and halved cherry tomatoes.
2. Add Bacon and Croutons:
   Top the salad with the crispy bacon crumbles and toasted bread pieces.

Make the Dressing

1. Blend the Dressing:
   In a blender or using an immersion blender, combine the goat cheese, buttermilk, honey, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed.

Serve the Salad

1. Dress the Salad:
   Drizzle the creamy goat cheese dressing over the assembled salad.
2. Toss and Serve:
   Toss gently to combine all ingredients. Serve immediately.

This BLT Salad with Creamy Goat Cheese Dressing is the perfect way to celebrate the end of summer with a dish that's both satisfying and packed with fresh flavors. Enjoy as a hearty lunch, a delightful snack, or a unique appetizer. Bon appétit!