On my recent work trip to the Loire Valley, I had the chance to visit a goat farm, which we recommend to our travelers with a special interest in French gastronomy. I saw dozens of different goat cheeses and other goat dairy products, and it's clear to me why goat cheese dishes are popular in the Loire region!

Goat cheese farm shop in the Loire Valley
Goat cheese farm shop in the Loire Valley
©

France Just For You

This classic goat cheese salad recipe is elegant and easy to prepare if you're short of time. Add toasted rounds of creamy goat cheese to crisp salad greens, drizzled with a tangy vinaigrette - it's a perfect 'taste of France' if you're looking for a light lunch option or appetizer you can easily recreate at home.

Ingredients (serves 4)

  • 8 oz (225 g) fresh goat cheese (chèvre log)
  • 1 small baguette (or rustic French bread), cut into 8 slices
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 5 oz (140 g) mixed salad greens (e.g., baby arugula, mesclun, or spring mix)
  • 1 small cucumber, sliced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ¼ cup walnuts or pecans, toasted (optional)

For the vinaigrette:

  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar (or balsamic vinegar)
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp honey
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Slice the goat cheese into 8 rounds. Place one round on each baguette slice.
  3. Arrange the slices on a baking sheet, drizzle lightly with olive oil, and bake for 10–12 minutes, until the bread is crisp
  4. Meanwhile, whisk together the vinaigrette ingredients in a small bowl.
  5. Toss the salad greens, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes with the vinaigrette.
  6. Divide the salad among 4 plates, then top each with 2 warm goat cheese toasts.
  7. Sprinkle with toasted walnuts or pecans if desired, and serve immediately.

Bon Appétit!

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France Just For You

Experts in self-drive tours in France

Travelers Reviews

5.0
Ricki & Craig
There are not enough superlatives, or kind words, to describe the level of service Emilie, with France Just for You, provided us from the moment we contacted her, throughout our trip, and even her thoughtful emails upon our return. We contacted Emilie with a list of all the places we wished to go, the things we hoped to do, and our budget. We …
Cathy
France Just For You planned the trip of a lifetime for my husband and me. We traveled to Normandy, St. Saint Michele, the Loire Valley and Provence. We are typically not road trip travelers, but this adventure brought us closer to the wonderful people of France than any group tour or "drop and plop" vacation could ever do. The bed and breakfasts …
Sheena
My friend and I decided to do a trip to Paris and then drive down to Nice. I was initially going to plan it however I got busy with work and did not have the time. This is when I found, France Just for You, and read the amazing reviews on Trip Advisor and decided to book. Emilie was great! She was thoughtful and paid great attention to detail. We …
Judy
I can echo everything that has been said in the previous three reviews. The personalization of this entire trip was incredible and Emilie communicated quickly and completely, both in the planning of the trip and after we were in France. My husband and I were spending four weeks in France in celebration of our 50th anniversary. We were a little …
Miller Family
Our family of 5 adults spent 17 days touring France on a trip built around the Women's World Cup Semi-finals and Final in Lyon. France Just For You did a marvelous job setting up beautiful, well managed B&B's in 5 different regions as we explored both the history and gastronomy of France. Guided tours from personable and informative guides during …
Don
We heard about Emilie from a friend who used her travel services twice. They spoke so highly of her we figured we had to visit France just to meet her. We traveled to the Loire Valley with another couple and she interviewed us separately to understand what we wanted to see and do and what we didn’t want to do. As a result, she designed a perfect …