English Garden Salad Food

PERFECT GARDEN SALAD

Steps:

• Tear lettuce into bite sized pieces and wash and dry thoroughly. Place in large salad bowl (wider than it is deep). Top with prepared vegetables.
• Sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cheese. Go lightly until you learn how much is "to taste" for you.
• Pour oil over salad, then vinegar. It is important that the oil be first. Quantity requires a bit of practice - go light on the vinegar at first. You can add more if needed. Aim to coat the top layer of vegetables. Toss until well mixed. Taste - add vinegar or oil if needed, and toss again. Do not add dry ingredients (see below). Serve immediately.
• Note: Your first couple salads may not be perfect. If you find that you didn't add enough salt or pepper, let diners add more as served - you can't get it well dispersed if you add to the salad bowl after the oil and vinegar have been added If you find that you added too much vinegar, a little salt can counteract - again, add as served.

ENGLISH GARDEN SALAD

Steps:

• Cook the potatoes 10 minutes in a large pan with enough water to cover; add the beans and cook 7 minutes more.
• Remove to a large bowl.
• Add the onions, cucumber, and half of the cheese and tomatoes to the potatoes and the beans and toss the salad.
• Mix the mayonnaise, mustard and honey and pour over the salad.
• Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and mint leaves. Add a little salt and pepper if you wish.
• Serve and enjoy!

ALMOST-FAMOUS GARDEN SALAD

Steps:

• Combine all the dressing ingredients and 1 to 2 tablespoons water in a blender or food processor; puree until smooth.
• Place the salad blend in a large bowl and top with the remaining salad ingredients. Drizzle with the dressing.
• Photography by Kate Sears

ENGLISH GARDEN SALAD

Steps:

• Slice the potatoes and cook them in a large pan of salted boiling water for 7 minutes. While they're cooking, trim and diagonally slice the runner beans and chop the spring onions. Add the beans to the pan and cook for a further 7-9 minutes, until the potatoes and beans are just tender.
• Drain the veg and run under cold water to halt the cooking. Shake the colander to get rid of as much water as possible, then tip into a large bowl. Add the onions and tomatoes, crumble in the cheese and mix well.
• Add most of the mint and dressing and toss everything lightly together. Tip into a serving dish, drizzle with a little more dressing and scatter over the rest of the mint.

GARDEN SALAD

Steps:

• Wash and dry the lettuce, leaves and herbs. Tear larger leaves into bite-size pieces and tip all the greenery into a large salad bowl.
• Put the garlic, onion, parsley and watercress or rocket into a mini chopper or food processor. Blitz until finely chopped. Add the vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper and blitz briefly. Add the oil and blitz until thickened. Drizzle over the salad and toss until the leaves are just coated. You might not need all the dressing, but it will keep in the fridge for a few days.