Salad with Warm Goat Cheese

Ingredients

• 1 (11-ounce) log plain or herbed Montrachet
• 2 extra-large egg whites, beaten with 1 tablespoon water
• Fresh white bread crumbs

For the dressing:

• 2 tablespoons good cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons good Champagne vinegar
• Pinch sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 extra-large egg yolk
• 1 cup good olive oil
• Enough mixed salad greens for 6 servings
• Olive oil and unsalted butter, for frying

Directions

Slice the Montrachet into 12 (1/2-inch-thick) slices. (The easiest way to slice goat cheese is to use a length of dental floss.) Dip each slice into the beaten egg whites, then the bread crumbs, being sure the cheese is thoroughly coated. Place the slices on a rack and chill them for at least 15 minutes.

For the dressing, place the vinegars, sugar, salt, pepper, and egg yolk in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and blend for 1 minute. With the motor running, slowly pour the olive oil through the feed tube until the vinaigrette is thickened. Season, to taste.

Toss the salad greens with enough dressing to moisten, then divide them among 6 plates.

Melt 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a saute pan over medium-high heat until just under smoking. Cook the goat cheese rounds quickly on both sides until browned on the outside but not melted inside. Top each salad with 2 warm rounds and serve.