My Go-To Salad for When Summer Starts to Fade

There’s a specific, bittersweet feeling in the air around late summer. The evenings get a little cooler, but the sun is still warm during the day. It’s the perfect time for a salad that feels both lush and grounded. This Fig, Goat Cheese, and Walnut salad is exactly that. It’s my favorite way to celebrate the last of the summer figs and ease into the cozy flavors of fall. It’s not really a recipe so much as a simple assembly of incredible ingredients.

The Simple Steps to Salad Bliss

Honestly, the hardest part is not eating all the components before they make it into the bowl. Here’s how I bring it all together:

1. Rinse, dry (spin or lay on a towel to air-dry) salad greens. Tear into bite-size pieces if necessary.
2. Slice the figs.
3. Roughly chop the walnuts.
4. Take a small spoon and lightly drop small pieces of the goat cheese over the salad.
5. Drizzle the dressing over the salad. You can mix the olive oil and lemon juice using the measurements above as a guide or just drizzle them over the salad before serving.

Why This Combination Works So Well

It’s all about the balance. Each component brings something special to the table, and together they create something truly magical.

• The Figs: They provide these incredible pockets of jammy, honeyed sweetness that just bursts in your mouth.
• The Goat Cheese: Its creamy, tangy flavor is the perfect counterpoint to the sweet figs. It cools everything down and adds a luxurious richness.
• The Walnuts: They’re the crunch factor! Their earthy, slightly bitter taste grounds the whole salad and adds a toasty depth.
• The Dressing: A simple duo of good olive oil and fresh lemon juice ties it all together. It’s light, bright, and lets the stars of the show really shine.

The Final Touch

I always make this salad right before serving. You want the greens to be crisp and the cheese to still be cool. It’s the perfect starter for a dinner party or a light main course for a lazy weekend lunch. Pour yourself a glass of crisp white wine, find a spot in the last of the afternoon sun, and enjoy this perfect taste of the seasonal shift. It’s a little fancy, but so, so easy. You’ve got to try it.