Watercress & strawberry salad

[Russethouse]

They were dishing out little tasters of this in Waitrose today. A little unusual and very tasty!

I handful of rocket

2 handfuls of watercress

I cup strawberries hulled and halved

Half a cucumber, peeled, halved lengthways, deseeded and cut into quarter inch 'moons'

half a red onion, thinly sliced

1oz of toasted pine nuts

Dressing

balsamic vinegar

lemon juice

sea salt

ground black pepper

extra virgin oil

In a salad bowl combine salad ingredients together, mix dressing (or use good quality ready made) add enough dressing to coat the salad. Serves 4.

 

[Cassis]

I like the sound of that - will definitely give it a try (once the strawberries ripen).  Thank you very much for sharing it with us, very thoughtful.

Jude 

[Christine Animal]

Thanks Gay.  Does sound good, but what is rocket and has anyone ever seen watercress in France?

 

[Cassis]

Hi Christine

Rocket's a spicy salad leaf (Fr. rocquette) and I think I have seen watercress in the Leclerc supermarket we use (Fr. cresson).

Jude

[Christine Animal]

Thanks Cassis, I had never heard of roquette, but I've found it   http://www.vert-desir.com/Roquette-Petite-Poivree.htm

I know cresson, I was getting the water cress mixed up I think with that tinier stuff you grow in the kitchen and put in cucumber sandwiches for example.  I've forgotten what that is called.

 

[Russethouse]

 I thought it might be something quick and a bit different for those who serve meals, as the ladies doing the demo had recipe sheets I took one.

Bon appetit

[Pip]

I often use strawberries, apples or grapes in salads and you could try pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and/or walnuts tossed with the salad in freshly squeezed lemon juice and walnut oil. Truly scrumptious !

[hastobe]

Avocado is great in salads - especially with warm crispy bacon.

Kathie 

[Christine Animal]

There's a delicious recipe for avocado pears.

Make a vinaigrette (oil, vinegar, salt, pepper)

add finely chopped garlic and

oeufs de lump (the little jars of black fish eggs where you find the smoked salmon, etc.)

fill the avocado pears.

 

Once when we had a lot of guests I peeled and sliced avocado pears in a big dish and poured the sauce over.

 

[Cassis]

[quote user="hastobe"]Avocado is great in salads - especially with warm crispy bacon.

Kathie 

[/quote]

Warm crispy bacon is great with anything.  Point finale!

[Just Katie]

Chopped apricots are good with chicken salad.

[Beryl]

Love rocket in salads but like watercress only in soup.

Dried apricots great in lamb dishes.

I have more of a savoury tooth than a sweet one but don't mind sweet things such as apricots in savoury style dishes.