Chopped Carrot Fennel Orange Salad Food

ORANGE FENNEL SALAD

Steps:

• Cut the fronds from the fennel bulbs and reserve some of the feathery leaves for later. Cut each fennel bulb in half and remove the cores with a sharp knife.
• Fit a food processor with the thinnest slicing blade. Cut the fennel bulbs into wedges and place horizontally into the feed tube. Process in batches. Peel each orange, remove the pith with a knife, and slice. Set aside.
• For the dressing: Whisk together the oil, juice, 1 teaspoon salt and the pepper in a small bowl. Place the fennel slices, oranges slices and arugula in a large bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss together. Sprinkle with salt and add some fennel fronds for decoration.

CUCUMBER AND FENNEL WITH ORANGE MINT DRESSING

Steps:

• Combine the cucumber, fennel, apple, and lemon juice in a serving bowl and gently mix.
• In a small bowl, whisk the orange juice through paprika until emulsified.
• Season with salt and pepper and pour over salad.
• Serve immediately or marinade covered, in refrigerator for 1-2 hours.
• Toss before serving and garnish with toasted nuts.

PEPPERY FENNEL & CARROT SALAD

Steps:

• Tip the carrots and fennel into a salad bowl. Toast the nuts in a hot frying pan for 3-5 mins until golden, then tip onto a plate. In the same pan, heat the oil and fry the mustard and nigella or black onion seeds, if using, until they begin to pop - about 30 secs. Pour in the lemon or lime juice and mix together to make a dressing. Toss together with the vegetables in the bowl, then sprinkle with nuts to serve.

ROASTED CARROT, SPELT, FENNEL & BLOOD ORANGE SALAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and cook the spelt with the stock cube following pack instructions - don't overcook it, as it should still have a little nutty bite. When the spelt is done, drain it very well and toss on a platter with 1 tbsp of the extra virgin olive oil to stop it from sticking together too much.
• Meanwhile, toss the carrots with the olive oil, blood orange zest and some seasoning in a roasting tin, then roast for 15 mins. Carefully stir through half the honey with the fennel. Continue roasting for another 10 mins, then cool for 5 mins. Cut away the pith and peel from the 2 zested oranges, then roughly chop or slice.
• Whisk together the remaining extra virgin olive oil, 1 tsp honey, red wine vinegar and the blood orange juice with some seasoning. Scrape the roasted carrots and fennel plus any cooking juices on top of the spelt, along with the orange chunks, red onion, herbs and olives. Drizzle over the dressing and toss everything together well. The salad will happily hold at room temperature for a few hours, but the spelt will soak up the dressing - so if you're making it ahead, add half the dressing when assembling and stir through the rest just before you serve it. As you serve, stir through the parsley, if you like.