Clementine Date And Stilton Salad Food

ORANGE, WALNUT & STILTON SALAD

Steps:

• Empty the salad bags into a large bowl. Peel the oranges over a small bowl to catch the juices; then, over the same bowl, cut the segments from the pith. Whisk the walnut oil into the orange juice, season, and pour over the salad leaves. Toss the salad, then arrange on a large platter. Scatter over the orange segments, walnuts and stilton.

PEAR, DATE & WALNUT SALAD WITH CREAMY STILTON DRESSING

Steps:

• Cut the pear quarters into thin slices and toss in a bowl with the lime juice to help protect their natural colour. Blend the crème fraîche with half the stilton, ginger syrup to taste, and enough water (3-4 tbsp) to give a smooth, thick coating consistency. (Don't add too much water or it may separate.)
• Scatter the pear slices over six serving plates and follow with the walnuts, dates and remaining cheese. Can be prepared to this stage up to an hour ahead.
• Drizzle each salad with a little of the dressing and some walnut oil. Season with a grinding of pepper - you shouldn't need salt, as the cheese is salty. Mix the salad leaves and watercress very lightly with just a bit more dressing - some leaves should be touched by the dressing, some untouched. Gently pile the leaves on top of each salad.

WARM STILTON SALAD

Steps:

• Use kitchen scissors or a sharp knife to snip the bacon crossways into fat matchsticks. Heat a small, dry frying pan on a medium heat and add the bacon. Cook for about 10 mins, until the fat has run and the bacon is crisp.
• To make the dressing, reduce the heat in the pan to low and stir in 1 tbsp water, then the vinegar, honey and mustard. Stir well, scraping up any residue on the base of the pan. Stir in the oil, taste and season.
• Meanwhile, heat a ridged griddle pan or grill and cook the pears for about 5 mins on each side, until browned. Place in a bowl and mix with the cubes of cheese (this melts the cheese a little, making it nice and squidgy). Tip the spinach into a serving bowl, and scatter the cheese and pear mixture over. Top with the warm bacon dressing and serve immediately.

BULGUR WHEAT, DATE & CLEMENTINE SALAD

Steps:

• Put the bulgur wheat and spices in a large bowl, season with salt and pour over 140ml boiling water. Cover with cling film and leave to sit for 10 mins. Fluff with a fork, then add the chopped dates, parsley, chickpeas and most of the almonds. Pour the dressing ingredients into a glass jar with a fitted lid and add some seasoning. Shake well and pour over the salad.
• Just before eating, mix the spinach through, top with the clementine slices and scatter with the remaining almonds.

STILTON DRESSING

Steps:

• Place the cheese, mayonnaise, heavy cream, vinegar, salt and pepper in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until smooth.
• Place a wedge of lettuce on each serving plate. Pour enough dressing over the lettuce to moisten. Serve immediately.

STILTON & FIG SALAD WITH HONEY-THYME DRIZZLE

Steps:

• Put the honey and thyme leaves in a small pan, then gently warm together for 2 mins - the honey shouldn't get hot enough to bubble. Set aside to cool. Make a dressing by whisking together the cider vinegar and rapeseed oil with some seasoning.
• To serve, gently toss the chopped hazelnuts, fennel and rocket with the dressing. Divide the cheese between 4 plates, add a fig half to each, then a pile of the salad. Finally drizzle the thyme-infused honey over the figs and cheese.

CLEMENTINE, FETA & WINTER LEAF SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk the dressing ingredients in a jug, season with salt and set aside.
• To make the salad, peel the clementines and slice whole. In a bowl, gently toss the chicory and watercress with the fennel and onion. Place slices of clementine on opposite sides of each plate, mound a pile of leaves in the middle, then scatter over the feta. Stir the parsley through the dressing and drizzle over the salad.