TOP 3 Super Simple Summer Salads

TOP 3 Super Simple Summer Salads

Zesty Pea & Mint with Crumbled Feta

This is a winner of a salad, super simple, amazing with any and every BBQ, great as a side to a big bowl of pasta or perfect just on it's own. Put it on your list for summer must makes.

Preparation Time - 5-10 minutes

Cooking Time - 0

Feeds -4

Ingredients -

1/2 Red onion - Finely Sliced

2 Cups of frozen peas - Defrosted (or cover with boiling water and drain once defrosted)

Handful of fresh mint leaves / Around 10 - Washed and roughly chopped

1/2 Zest of 1 lemon

Juice of 1 lemon

200g Feta- Roughly crumbled

Handful of pinenuts 

Generous sprinkle of rock salt

Generous sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper

Sprinkle of white pepper

Instructions - 

Prepare everything as listed then combine in a serving bowl, taste for seasoning and adjust to your own taste. 

Keep in the fridge until ready to serve. 

Fragrant Lemon & Basil Asparagus with Parmesan, Capers & Cracked Black Pepper

This works a pre curser to something else that's yummy or just as a snack all on it's own. Either way it's delicious. TRY IT.

Preparation Time - 5 minutes

Cooking Time - 5

Feeds -4 (As a side)

Ingredients - 

12-15 Stems of Asparagus - Hard ends chopped off

Knob of butter

Juice of 1 lemon

Sprinkle of rock salt

Generous amount of fresh black pepper

2 Tablespoons of capers

Handful of fresh basil leaves

50g of Parmesan- Finely grated

Instructions -

Wash and prepare the asparagus then add to a frying pan with a big knob of butter and cook on a high heat for 2-3 minutes, add lemon juice followed by seasoning and cook for another minute or so. Add in the capers followed by fresh basil leaves and a sprinkling of finely grated Parmesan. 

And...you're good to go. Get stuck into the crisp fresh salty asparagus and enjoy.

Hot Radish, Avocado Feta and Caper Gem

If you're a salad lover like I am then this simple but delicious crispy hot (from the radish) and salty concoction should do the trick. Serve this up in a large salad bowl and let people get stuck in. It's good to go as is or perfect with a slab of meat (or tofu) on the side.

Preparation Time - 5 -10 minutes

Cooking Time - 0

Feeds - 4-6

Ingredients -

Salad Ingredients-

3 Gem Lettuces - Ends cut off and leaves left whole

2 Hass avocados - Roughly scooped out of skin

1/2 Red onion - Finley sliced

Bunch of hot radishes - Thoroughly washed, leaves removed and cut into quarters

Half a jar /2-3 Tablespoons of Greek/ dry style black olives - Stones removed then roughly chopped

200g /1 pack of Feta - Roughly crumbled

Small jar/ 3-4 Tablespoons of capers

Dressing-

1 Teaspoon of caster sugar

1 Tablespoon of honey

Juice of 1 lemon

Glug of white wine vinegar

Extra big glut of extra virgin olive oil

Sprinkle of rock salt 

Generous sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper

Instructions-

Combine all of the salad ingredients in a large serving bowl. If you have a spare jar with a lid hanging around (I'm a jar hoarder so I do) add the dressing ingredients and shake until all the sugar's dissolved. Have a try and adjust the seasoning if it needs it.  If you don't have a jar handy then just whisk with a fork in a bowl until it's all combined. Just before you're about to serve the salad pour over the dressing- the salad stays nice and crisp this way.