KEY POINTS:
Perfect for when you fancy something more substantial than a salad but don't want to turn on the oven
Serves 4
1 lemon
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp freshly grnd black pepper
1 tbsp freshly chopped thyme
300g trim pork fillet
1 cup noodles
2 cups broccoli, chopped
2 courgettes, peeled to strips
2 ripe tomatoes, sliced
Large handful basil
2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
1. Zest the lemon. Put into shallow bowl with 1 tablespoon oil, black pepper, a good pinch of salt and thyme. Mix.
2. Add the pork and coat in the mixture. Heat frying pan until hot, then add pork.
3. Cook for 10-15 minutes, turning often, until golden and cooked through. Remove from pan and leave to rest.
4. Boil pan of water and cook noodles. Add broccoli for final two minutes.
5. Drain, refresh in cold water, then put into a bowl with the courgette, tomato, basil and pumpkin seeds.
6. Slice pork and arrange on top. Squeeze over lemon juice and olive oil.
* * *
Taking some healthy steps is all very well, but there's always room for wine. Joelle Thomson picks her best matches for these summer salads.
2006 Wild Earth Central Otago Riesling $26
Wild earth - talk about a perfect description of Central Otago's dramatic, arid landscape. This wine is a light, lively apple-and-lime tasting white. It's definitely off-dry but, served lightly chilled, it's a fabulous match for the sweet richness of salmon.
2004 Weingut Kees-Kieren Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett $25
Here's another luscious riesling to drink with the smoked salmon recipe. This wine comes from the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer in Germany; home to some of the world's best rieslings. While it is noticeably off-dry, it is beautifully balanced and tastes great when lightly chilled. Available from www.wineimporter.co.nz
2006 Trinity Hill High Country Pinot Noir Hawke's Bay $39
If you're a pinot fan, this is a must-try. Made from grapes grown in the "high country" (aka cooler climate than usual for Hawke's Bay), it tastes of cherries and plums. It's a pretty, light red wine with a long finish - perfect with the roast salad recipe.
2005 Delas Saint-Esprit Cotes-du-Rhone $26
Cotes-du-Rhone are some of France's best-value red wines, especially when they're as full-bodied as this dense, spicy, wine. Great with savoury vegetable-based dishes, such as the roast salad recipe.
- Detours, HoS