Denise says:
New season baby vegetables are particularly flavoursome and look very attractive. I like to make this salad with a colourful mixture too. They develop from the same seeds as their bigger ‘brothers’ – the secret is the way they are grown. Spring water and harvesting them after two weeks instead of three to four months provides a more sophisticated way of eating vegetables.
Baby leeks, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, radishes, beetroots, turnips, courgettes are all good examples which are now readily available in your local supermarket.
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 6
Ingredients:
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250g miniature new potatoes – halved
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150g baby carrots – scrubbed but not peeled, halved lengthways
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150g baby turnips – trimmed
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150g baby beetroots – cut in half
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150g courgettes – cut in half, leave raw
Dressing:
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100g blanched hazelnuts – roasted and roughly chopped
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2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
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2 teaspoons honey
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4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Garnish:
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200g soft cream cheese
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2 tablespoons each fresh mint leaves and basil leaves- leave whole
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Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
- Make the dressing by combining all the ingredients together. Set aside.
- Cook the baby potatoes in boiling water for about 8- 10 minutes or until soft. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the carrots, beetroots and turnips by either steaming for 8 minutes or cooking in boiling water. (Cook separately)
- Combine all the cooked vegetables and raw baby courgettes in a salad bowl.
- Stir the dressing into the cooked vegetables.
- Season the cream cheese with salt and pepper and dollop onto the cooled salad.
To serve the stylish way: Sprinkle with fresh herbs and serve immediately.