Goat Cheese, Grape, and Walnut Salad
The whole name for this salad is Goat Cheese, Grape, and Walnut Salad with a Grape Molasses Dressing. It’s from one of my favorite books – A Middle Eastern Pantry, by Lior Lev Sercarz, published in 2023. It’s in his book that I discovered grape molasses. Pomegranate molasses is pretty popular, but there’s a grape variety of molasses! I never knew and it’s my new favorite!
From the author: “Grapes are used in three different forms in this colorful salad to really drive home their versatility: grape molasses to make caramelized walnuts, verjus as the acidic component of the dressing, and fresh grapes, which complement the creamy goat cheese.”
I’m extremely fond of lettuce-based salads, but this was outstanding. Mr. Sercarz certainly knows ingredients and their flavors.
This would be a great dish to serve as part of a lunch buffet.
Goat Cheese, Grape, and Walnut Salad
Caramelized Walnuts:
1 cup walnuts
1 tablespoon grape molasses
Salt
Aleppo pepper
Dressing:
2 teaspoons grape molasses
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon verjus
Salt
Aleppo pepper
Salad:
1 1/2 cups red grapes, halved
4 sprigs mint, leave picked and chopped
5 ounces fresh goat cheese, crumbled
1 tablespoon nigella seeds
Extra-virgin olive oil
Preheat the oven to 350 degreesF. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, toss the walnuts with the grape molasses and season to taste with salt and Aleppo pepper. Transfer the walnuts to the prepared pan, reserving the bowl. Bake until the walnuts look and smell caramelized, about 15 minutes. Set the walnuts aside to cool.
In the same bowl, whisk together the grape molasses, oil, and verjus. Season to taste with salt and Aleppo pepper.
Add the grapes and half of the mint to the dressing and gently stir to combine. Arrange the cheese on a serving platter, then top with the grape mixture, followed by the caramelized walnuts, nigella seeds, and remaining mint.
Finish with a drizzle of oil and serve.
I can also see this salad served on top of thinly sliced curly lettuce, with extra dressing, which was wonderful!
About the Author: Chef Mimi
Yum…I love the sound of this combination… walnuts are my favourite and with grapes and goats cheese a match made in heaven :)
Definitely! It was so good. And unique!
This looks delicious. I can imagine it being served as part of a lite bite spread. I will have to look up the molasses.
It really was delicious. Very unique!
this sounds like a delicious combo, and is beautiful
Such great ingredients! They worked well together.
This looks like a lovely combo Mimi! Grapes galore!
Thanks, Dorothy!
Gorgeous salad, nice combination of textures! Barb
Thanks, Barb! It was really good!
Such a wonderful salad full of autumn flavours. And this grape molasses dressing? I’m intrigued! I’ve only used pomegranate molasses (loving it), so this version sounds like my cup of tea.
It’s equally as good! I loved discovering it!
YUM!
Thanks, Gary!
I can see this salad being a tasty nibble with a few glasses of what you like while sitting on the patio enjoying a balmy evening with or without company.
Mary :))
Absolutely!!! I can see it also with some nice butter lettuce.
wow I did not know grape molasses was a thing :). I do love pomegranate molasses so i’m sure it’s good too. Your salad sounds so tasty.
cheers
sherry
Thanks, Sherry! I will use the grape molasses in many ways, It’s really good!
Grape Molasses is new to me as well! I wonder if I can make it?
I’m sure you can! I wonder if there’s a specific variety of grape…
very nice Mimi, salad looks great
Thanks! It was really good!
This sounds wonderful!
Thanks, Kay! It was wonderful.
This looks absolutely delicious, I love a flavourful, crunchy salad like this. It would make a great addition to a buffet!
It definitely would! And i think it would be good with some baby lettuces as well.
Now this is such a lovely surprise ! I patiently wait for our grapes to ripen so I could publish grape molasses from scratch and now this is absolutely great suggestion how to use it !!!!!!!!
Oh fantastic!!!
This salad is a great find, perfect for the season. Love grapes in savory salads! :)
Thanks, Ronit. It was truly extraordinary.
I would be all over this salad. It’s gorgeous. Grape molasses, love it! I have never seen it stateside but will definitely keep my eye out.
Amazon! My favorite local deli!
What a pretty salad, Mimi. I so often learn about new ingredients on your site, and I love that. The grape molasses sounds so interesting. :-) ~Valentina
Oh thanks! I love finding new ingredients. And fortunately Amazon usually helps me out!
I’m loving this Goat Cheese, Grape, and Walnut Salad! The grape molasses adds such a unique touch, and the caramelized walnuts are a game changer. Definitely a standout dish for any lunch buffet or special occasion. Can’t wait to try it myself!
It was so good. I can see these ingredients over a green salad as well.
I wonder what other cheese can be used as I just cannot fall in love with Goat cheese. Love the idea of caramelized walnuts too- one of my favorite salads is toasted honey pecans with heirloom tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, strawberry, blueberries, feta and honey- this reminded me of that.
Really any cheese that you love would work. Maybe a creamy cheese, but I can also see havarti or fontina and a new one for me – roccola!
Ohhh that sounds delicious- especially havarti
So so fun to eat!
Looks and sounds absolutely delicious, Mimi! I love grapes served in any way. What a great cookbook resource that you’ve shared!
Fascinating recipe! Glad you liked it!
So sorry for being late on all my comments! I just got back from two weeks in Botswana. The salad looks incredible, and I want to make it next week. I just put everything on my shopping list for Sunday morning. Thanks for sharing this… I know it’s going to be a new favorite.
And, suddenly, I’m back to anonymous… I don’t know why!
I really wish I could solve that problem. Sheesh!
Did you go to Mashatu lodge?! An incredible adventure. Yes, this salad is amazing.