Arugula Salad with Pomegranate Dressing

We made this salad twice at Christmas 2012 because it was so good. Kathy gets the recipe credit since she discovered it in Southern Living, Dec. 2012.

Ingredients

• 1½ cups pomegranate juice
• ⅓ cup olive oil
• 5 teaspoons honey
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar  
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• 4 (4-oz.) goat cheese logs
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 2 egg whites
• 1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)  
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 (5-oz) containers baby arugula
• 4 large navel oranges, peeled and sectioned

Instructions

Vinaigrette

1. Bring pomegranate juice to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat; reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes or until reduced to 1/4 cup. Transfer to a small bowl. Cool completely (about 30 minutes).
2. Whisk in olive oil, honey, vinegar, mustard, pepper, and salt.

Goat Cheese

1. Cut goat cheese logs into 6 (1/2″) slices.
2. Combine flour and pepper in a shallow dish.
3. In another shallow dish, whisk together egg whites and 2 tablespoons water.
4. In a third shallow dish place the panko.
5. Dredge goat cheese slices in flour, then egg, then panko. Place coated slices, in a single layer, onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Cover and chill 30 minutes up to 4 hours.
6. Right before serving, cook the goat cheese slices. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and cook the slices 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining olive oil and goat cheese rounds.
7. Divide arugula and orange sections among 8 plates; drizzle with Pomegranate Vinaigrette. Top each salad with 3 goat cheese rounds.

Note

• An easy way to slice the goat cheese is to use unflavored dental floss. Using a 6″ piece of floss, place the middle of the floss under the goat cheese, holding the ends of the floss in each hand. To cut, cross over the floss at the top of the cheese and pull the floss all the way through. Should have a nice clean cut! Repeat for each desired slice.