Warm Spiced Goat Cheese And Cabbage Salad

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 4 ounces soft mild goat cheese, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 3 slices bacon, cut into 1/2 x 1/4 inch pieces
• 1 small onion, sliced thin
• 1 pinch caraway seed
• 12 ounces red cabbage, sliced thin
• 3 tablespoons walnuts, toasted lightly
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/3 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• salt and pepper
• 1 loaf of long thin french bread (ficelle or baguette)

Recipe

• 1 cream the goat cheese, thyme and pepper; set aside.
• 2 in a deep skillet or dutch oven over medium heat, cook bacon, onion and caraway seeds until bacon is crisp and onion is softened, stirring often.
• 3 add cabbage, walnuts, vinegar, brown sugar and salt and pepper to taste; braise, covered, over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is crisp-tender, about 20 minutes.
• 4 while cabbage is braising, cut bread into 1/2" thick slices and toast on baking sheet in the middle of a preheated 350° oven for 6 minutes.
• 5 put goat cheese mixture in pastry bag and pipe onto the toasted rounds; bake in same 350° oven until golden, 5-7 minutes.
• 6 divide cooled cabbage salad and toasts between 4 plates and serve.