Moroccan · Salad
Chefchaouen Goat Cheese & Walnut Salad
The blue mountain town of Chefchaouen is famous for its fresh goat cheese, and this rustic Rif salad pairs it with toasted walnuts, wild greens or rocket, orange segments and a honey-cumin dressing. It's fresh, tangy and a little sweet — a bright plate that tastes of the northern highlands.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 5 min
- Total
- 20 min
- Serves
- 4
- Level
- Easy
Ingredients
- 150 g fresh goat cheese, crumbled
- 80 g walnuts, toasted
- 100 g rocket or wild greens
- 2 oranges, segmented
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- Salt and pepper
Method
- 1
Toast walnuts
Toast the walnuts in a dry pan until fragrant, then cool and roughly chop.
- 2
Make dressing
Whisk the olive oil, honey, cumin, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
- 3
Build
Arrange the greens, orange segments and sliced onion on a platter.
- 4
Add cheese and nuts
Scatter over the crumbled goat cheese and toasted walnuts.
- 5
Dress
Drizzle with the honey-cumin dressing just before serving.
- 6
Serve
Serve at once as a starter or light lunch with bread.
Chef's tips
- Segment the oranges over a bowl to catch the juice for the dressing.
- Use a soft, fresh goat cheese rather than an aged one for the right creaminess.
- Dress at the last moment so the greens stay crisp.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Chefchaouen known for cheese?
The surrounding Rif mountains are goat-herding country, and fresh, soft goat cheese (jben) is a local speciality sold in the town's markets.
No fresh goat cheese?
A soft feta or a mild fresh curd cheese works. Aim for something creamy and lightly tangy to balance the sweet orange and honey.