Apple, beet salad with breaded goat cheese topping

I first had this apple, beet, goat cheese salad at a restaurant in Budapest and then when we got home we had to re create it since it was so tasty. Since then this has been a salad we eat pretty regularly. It is a way to eat beets that is tasty :)

Ingredients 

Canned beets - 1 can - cut into thin strips ( julienned)

Apple-2 large - cut into thin strips ( julienned) 

Clementine/ mandarin orange slices from 2 fruits - optional 

Butter lettuce - cut and washed 

Candied walnuts / pecans - 2 tbsp ( optional )

Breaded goat cheese rounds:

Goat cheese - 8 oz log

Egg- 1 beaten 

Panko bread crumbs- 1 cup 

Dried spices (mix in with bread crumbs) 

Thyme- 1/4 tsp , parsley - 1/4 tsp , basil-1/4 tsp

Salt - 1/4 tsp, black pepper - 1/4 tsp

Vegetable oil - 1/2 cup for shallow frying 

Dressing :

Oranges ( clementines/ halos/ mandarin orange)- 3 juiced

Olive oil - 2 tbsp 

Rice wine vinegar - 2 tbsp

Mustard- 1/2 tsp

Maple syrup - 1 tbsp

Honey/ brown sugar- 1 tbsp 

Salt- to taste

Pepper - to taste 

Instructions :

1. First in a bowl add julienned apple, beets and                (optional) orange slices.

2. Combine all the ingredients for the salad dressing in a bowl beat well until combined. Taste it and add ingredients to taste ( ie if sour add some sweet, if sweet add some sour etc) and set aside.

3.Freeze the goat cheese for about 20 min before you cut it so it’s firm

4.Cut the goat cheese into 1/2 inch slices 

5.Dip the goat cheese into the egg and then dip it into the seasoned bread crumbs 

6. In a sauce pan add the oil until it is about 1/4 inch deep

7. Heat the oil up to about 350 ( if you don’t have a thermometer just heat up the oil enough and test it by dropping a small amount of the breaded goat cheese, if it sizzles and rises to the top right away then it is at the correct temperature)

8. Now gently place the breaded goat cheese round into the oil and let it dry form about 30 seconds and then turn it over with a slotted spoon 

9. Repeat the same with the other side - you take it out when it is golden brown

10. Drain the excesses oil by placing in a paper towel lined bowl. 

11. Add the dressing from step 2 to the bowl of apples and beets from step 1 and combine well

12. On a plate place the butter lettuce and the place the apple beet mixture on top and the sprinkle with candied nuts and then place the breaded goat cheese rounds on top and now the salad is ready to serve !!