Spinach, Rocket, Strawberry and Petis Pois Salad for When You Need a Day of Summer in Winter...

I know that strawberries and peas are far more appropriate for a summer dish, and this is certainly something that I’ll be revisiting in warmer months. That said, sometimes I feel a need in the winter to awaken my tastebuds with food that’s abundant in the bright flavours and crisp freshness that the root veg and brassicas of the season just can’t provide. It's the culinary opposite of people that celebrate Christmas in July, sometimes you just get the urge to go out of season.

This is such a lovely dish either as a side salad or you could add some feta cheese and a scattering of toasted nuts or seeds for a fuller and complete meal that would be perfect for a 5:2 fast day lunch or evening meal.

Spinach, Rocket, Strawberry and Petis Pois Salad 

For the salad, assemble the following ingredients in a bowl. Just before serving, drizzle over the dressing (you will have some left and it can stay in the fridge for a week-ten days quite happily). 

1 cup baby spinach leaves 

1 cup rocket

1 cup petis pois (boiled for 2 minutes and then cooled)

1 cup strawberries - sliced

For the strawberry and black pepper dressing, place the following ingredients in a food processor and whizz up (a small one is best here as you aren’t making much). Don’t forget to give it a taste and a tweak at the end, it may be that your dressing needs a little more of something especially since not all strawberries are created equal. If it’s too sweet, perhaps some lemon juice… bland could mean it needs more salt… too sharp can be fixed with a drizzle more oil or honey and make sure that the black pepper flavour is loud and proud. 

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp cider vinegar

Squeeze of lemon juice

4 strawberries 

1 tsp dijon mustard

1/2 tsp rice malt syrup or honey (the former is fructose free) 

Black pepper (3-4 turns of a mill)

Pinch of salt 

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