Crisp Pasta And Goat Cheese Salad

Ingredients

12 wonton skins
4 oz goat cheese
1 oz cream cheese
1 tb chives
1 tb parsley
1/2 ts thyme leaves
1 1/2 ts garlic
1 ts shallots
4 hearts of palm
16 cherry tomatoes
2 tb dijon mustard
1 ts salt
3/8 ts pepper
1 tb wine vinegar
5 tb olive oil
1 head boston lettuce
1 1/4 head tip lettuce
1 belgian endive
1/2 head radicchio

Instructions

In a pan in hot corn oil, deep-fry the wonton skins, one at a time until crisp, about 15 seconds per side (do not allow oil to smoke). Set aside. In a bowl, thoroughly mix the goat cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, chives, parsley, thyme, garlic, and shallots. Season to taste with the freshly ground pepper. Set aside. TO PREPARE THE DRESSING: In an electric blender, place the mustard, garlic, salt, pepper, and vinegar. With blender running, slowly add the olive oil in a thin, steady stream until mixture is thickened to dressing consistency. Set aside. TO PREPARE THE LETTUCE: Separate the lettuce leaves; then tear each leaf into bite-size pieces. In a large bowl, toss the lettuce and dressing, using just enough of dressing to evenly coat all the pieces. Set aside. TO ASSEMBLE THE EACH SALAD: Spread over one side of each deep-fried wonton skin some of the goat cheese mixture. On 4 plates, place a wonton, cheeseside up. Stack some of the lettuce pieces on the wonton. Top with a second wonton, cheese-side down. Some of the lettuce will spread out onto the plate. Garnish each salad with heart of palm slices and cherry/yellow teardrop tomato halves drizzled with the remaining salad dressing. Makes 4 salads. Recipe: Chez Nous, 217 S. Avenue G, Humble, TX