SALADS get sexy

Our delicious recipes firmly reinvent salad as the star of the dinner show

SIX HEALTHY RECIPES

Gutter credit

PEACH AND BUFFALO MOZZARELLA SALAD WITH PISTACHIO PESTO

As with all simple salads, success lies in using the absolute best, most flavoursome produce you can find, so save this for high summer when the peaches are juicy and the tomatoes have been warmed by the sun.

Serves 4

4 ripe peaches, washed and dried

1 Lebanese cucumber

or ½ regular cucumber

6 heirloom tomatoes, preferably

mixed colours

A good handful of wild rocket

2 x 125g balls buffalo mozzarella

A handful of purple basil

3 tbsp aged balsamic vinegar

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Freshly ground black pepper

For the pistachio pesto:

50g shelled unsalted pistachios,

lightly toasted

1 garlic clove, peeled

30g flat-leaf parsley

A dash of lemon juice

100ml extra virgin or pistachio oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 First make the pesto. Tip the lightly toasted pistachios into the bowl of a mini processor and whizz until finely chopped. Add the garlic and parsley and whizz again to combine. Then add the lemon juice and half of the oil, season well with salt and black pepper and blend until almost smooth. Add the remaining oil and whizz once more. Set aside for 30 mins for all of the flavours to mingle, after which time taste the pesto and add more salt and pepper as needed.

2 Cut the peaches in half, remove the stones and cut the fruit into wedges. Cut the cucumber into bite-sized pieces and slice the tomatoes. Arrange the rocket on each plate and top with peaches, cucumber and tomatoes.

3 Tear the mozzarella into pieces and divide between the plates. Spoon the pesto over each salad and scatter with the basil. Finish with a drizzle of the balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil and a good grinding of black pepper.

ROMANESCO, APPLE AND FREEKEH

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Cauliflower stalks are as edible and delicious as the rest of this fantastic vegetable, yet so often they end up discarded. Here, the stalk is used to create the base of a wonderful dressing. A beautifully simple and delicate salad.