When the weather starts warming up, there’s nothing I crave more than this spring salad. Light, bright, and packed with delicious flavours. This makes a great lunch and can keep in the fridge for a couple of days. There are a couple of different options for salad dressings depending on your mood!
INGREDIENTS
Serves 2
1 cup valeriana Salad (a couple of big handfuls)
1/2 smalll/medium radicchio finely chopped
Handful of wild rocket finely sliced
Handful of cherry tomatoes finely sliced
3 tbsp Kalamata olives
1/2 an avocado diced
1/2 cup cooked chickpeas
1/2 cup cooked lentils
Fresh herbs of choice - I used parsley and dill chopped into the wild rocket. (Mint and basil also work really well)
1tbsp pine nuts
Tahini Dressing
¼ cup smooth tahini
3 tbsp water, more if needed
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
3tbsp olive oil
1 tsp maple syrup
1 small garlic clove, grated
Salt & pepper to taste
Herby Vinaigrette
1 cup parsley, packed
½ cup mixed other fresh herbs (dill, oregano, thyme, basil, mint, ...), packed
¾ cup olive oil
2 tbsp lime juice or red wine vinegar
2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
2 tsp dijon or wholegrain mustard
Salt & pepper
DIRECTIONS
In a large serving bowl, combine the valeriana, radicchio, rocket, pine nuts, herbs, cherry tomatoes, olives, chickpeas and lentils. Toss the ingredients together and set aside.
To prepare the tahini dressing, combine all of the ingredients in a jar and shake until blended - adjust the water if you need to add more to make it more liquid
To prepare the herb dressing, combine all ingredients in a tall container fit for a stick blender and blend it until smooth. Taste and add in more salt, acid or sweetener if needed.
If you’ll be serving all of the salad at once, go ahead and drizzle enough dressing in to lightly coat the salad and toss to combine.
NOTES:
This is a recipe that can be adjusted in endless ways:
- If radicchio and rocket are a bit bitter/spicy for you try using gem lettuce and baby spinach.
- If you don't have lentils/chickpeas this works with any blend of pulses.
- Add/remove any ingredients - I sometimes add sundried tomatoes instead of olives.
- For a burst of colour throw in some finely diced orange, red and yellow peppers.
- To make it even more hearty add in some quinoa or another grain.
