Embrace the latest batch of seasonal greens now on the shelves.
I find it inspiring to wander around the produce section at food stores and markets as the new season's salad ingredients start to appear. At the moment there are gorgeous green bunches of watercress, baby beetroot tender enough to slice and pan fry in olive or walnut oil and beautiful nasturtium flowers which make even the plainest bowl of greens look like a celebration of spring.
Our recipes today make the most of these ingredients. The recipes are healthy, quick and very tasty - ideal to throw together the night before a busy day or even first thing in the morning, though they'll actually taste better made the night before.
Instead of having to spend time during the day trying to find nutritious and satisfying food, pack these delicious salads with you to eat on the run while dashing between fashion shows.
Duck breasts have been readily available for some time from most supermarkets. They can be pan-fried or grilled in 10 minutes resulting in tender, juicy meat, sliced and paired with beetroot and orange.
Creme fraiche mixed together with finely chopped lightly toasted walnuts provides another texture and a healthier alternative to a mayo-based dressing.
Udon noodles are fantastically chewy and fat enough to soak up all the flavours of ginger and sesame in the dressing.
Karengo - a New Zealand dried sea vegetable - adds smoky, nutty flavour and a huge vitamin and mineral boost when your energy may be lacking, and the watercress adds a nice peppery element.
Even though leftover cold roast chicken never lasts a minute in my house, if it does in yours and a sandwich doesn't cut it, combining it with greens, croutons, tomatoes and eggplant is a good option. Cold roast chicken can be paired with nearly anything, though a spoonful of fresh herby pesto instead of a dressing is a particularly moreish addition.
Chef's tip
Salad greens will ideally be picked from the garden, given a light rinse then put in the fridge where they will keep well. If this is not possible, make sure to choose the freshest looking salad greens. As well as nasturtiums, look out for other fresh edible flowers in the salad section.
