I love a salad with fresh ingredients and a little savory twist. This Fresh Herb and Lettuce Salad with Goat Cheese and Pancetta is light yet crave-worthy! Plant that herb garden and make this tasty salad for your next patio dinner.

The Fresh Herb and Lettuce Salad Ingredients

All you need for this refreshing salad is a bunch of your favorite lettuce (I love butter lettuce for the bright green color and light crispiness), fresh chives, fresh Italian parsley, 1-2 ounces of diced Pancetta, 2 ounces of soft goat cheese, one small shallot, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, and 1/2 tsp of white sugar. For the dressing, you will need olive oil, white wine vinegar, and 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard.

How to Prepare this Salad

First, peel and thinly slice the shallot. Whisk the red wine vinegar and sugar in a small glass bowl or container until the sugar is dissolved. Place the sliced shallots into the mixture and let them soak while you prepare the rest of the salad.

Next, place the diced pancetta (I purchase pancetta pre-diced for ease) in a small sauté pan. Cook on low, stirring occasionally until it is crisp. Place onto a paper towel-lined bowl or plate to drain the fat.

While the pancetta cools, you can make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, vinegar, and Dijon mustard. Add salt and pepper to taste. Or put ingredients into a mason jar and shake until combined.

Wash and tear lettuce into preferred-sized pieces. Place in a salad bowl. Wash fresh chives and Italian parsley. Chop into large pieces. Place them in the salad bowl.

Next, drain the shallots from the red wine vinegar mixture. Add to the salad bowl. Add cooled and drained pancetta to the bowl.

Using a fork, scrape goat cheese into a bowl, crumbling it. Distribute half of it around the salad. Pour the dressing onto the salad and toss until all ingredients have a light coating of dressing. Top the salad with the remaining goat cheese crumbles.

Now your salad is ready to serve!

Tips and Adjustments to this Fresh Herb and Lettuce Salad with Goat Cheese and Pancetta Recipe

You can pickle the shallots and crisp the diced pancetta at any time during the day to get a head start. Buying the chopped pancetta also saves time.
Add any seasonal fruit or veggie that sounds good to you! I love a perfectly ripe heirloom tomato or even cubes of peach, during the right season.
This is the perfect addition to any dinner party meal, indoors or out. Try it with one of these main courses: Easy Honey Dijon Pork Tenderloin, Bruschetta Chicken Sandwich, Balsamic Grilled Flank Steak
If you love this type of salad, you can get more ideas from this: 5 Secrets to Making a Great Salad.