PAW's Recipe of the Month May 2014 - Salads

Whilst the weather is turning and we start to think of Al Fresco dining once more. Some have tried the BBQ but it hasn’t quite been warm enough just yet. My gardening instincts remind me that it is of course possible to have a frost up until the end of May so be warned. The ground is not quite warm enough yet and any sunny days with open blue skies end with the heat of the day being sucked out into the atmosphere and the cold air from the ground with it. This can result in the lower branches and leaves of newly growing plants suffering from what we call an aerial frost.

So whilst it might still be a little chilly there is no cause to be complacent. Scrubbing up the BBQ and pulling out the garden furniture and cleaning ready for summer can certainly be tackled. On the culinary front we can start to collate old and trusted recipes and marinades and seek out some new ideas too to tickle family and friends palates. I thought some of Salads this month to start things off so below are a few ideas.

 Bean, Pea and Hazelnut Salad

250g French Beans (blanched)

250g Garden Peas (blanched)

100g Hazelnust roughly chopped

1 Orange zested & juiced

1 Garlic Clove Crushed

Small bunch of Chives

Olive Oil               

Mix it all together

Griddled Courgette, Tomato and Bean Salad

Canellini Beans – a tin – washed and drained

Cherry tomatoes halved

Courgette strips – Char grilled

Dressing made from – Fresh Basil- Crushed Garlic and Olive Oil – whizz up in the food processor

 

Fennel, Black olive and Orange

2 Fennels Heads – shredded

3 Oranges – segmented and save the juice

Black Olives

Watercress

Dressing : Olive Oil, Lemon Juice & Crushed Garlic

Flageolets, Onion, Palm Hearts and Tuna

1 tin of Flageolets – washed and drained

2 tins of Tuna

1 Tin of Palm Hearts

2 Onions finely chopped

Dress with a good vinaigrette

Garnish with Cherry Tomato halves and chopped parsley