Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Autumn Sunset Salad

The clocks have gone forward and winter is opening up before us like an abyss. At least, that's what it feels like at the moment, with wind whistling around the house like a malevolent spirit and rain lashing the windows. I know there are lots of good things about the cooler months (red wine, slow-cooked lamb, soup, woolly hats) but I'm not ready to embrace them just yet.


Autumn Sunset Salad
The Saturday market is full of beetroot and pumpkin that I stash in the bottom of the pram beneath pungent bouquets of coriander and mint (since our plants legged it long ago) - and this is what I've been doing with them. This owes a lot to a Julie Le Clerc recipe - the dressing is pretty much hers - but I've ditched the chickpeas and added beetroot. Scatter some crumbled feta or toasted nuts over the top for a protein hit. This makes enough for four hungry people as generous side dish or lunch.

1/2 a pumpkin, seeded and cut into small chunks (don't worry about peeling it, the skin is delicious roasted)
1 large beetroot, cut into small chunks
olive oil

Preheat the oven to 200C. Line a large roasting dish with foil, then tip the pumpkin and beetroot into it. Drizzle with oil and toss well with your hands. Roast for about 30-40 minutes, until tender (the beetroot may take a little longer). Set aside and let cool.

Dressing
3/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes (I buy the dried sort in packets, as if they were dried apricots - if you use the ones packed in oil, reduce the oil below accordingly)
3Tbsp red wine vinegar
2Tbsp hot water
1/3 cup olive oil
3 cloves garlic
2tsp brown sugar
salt and pepper

Put the sun-dried tomatoes, water and vinegar into a small bowl and let sit for 20-30 minutes (to soften the tomatoes), then tip into a food processor. Add the remaining dressing ingredients and whiz until it forms a chunky puree. Taste for seasoning, add a little water if it seems very thick. Toss this through the cooled, roasted vegetables. Sprinkle with a handful of coarsely chopped coriander and mint and serve. Pin It

8 comments:

  1. Oh lucy this sounds divine!! I love cooking seasonally, and yes, now it does feel terribly wintery with day light savings coming to an end!!! I love roasted pumpkin and beetroot so will definitely be putting this on my dinner menu! An thanks for stopping by my blog - your comment was just so surprisingly wonderful. I absolutely LOVE your blog and the fact that you write for Frankie, so it is me who is in awe of your blog xx

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  2. ooh yum. that is such an appropriate recipe for me right now (i'm sure i all those ingredients in the fridge) and i plan to make it tomorrow.
    thanks for your beautiful blog.

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  3. Yum! I am SOOOOO making this, the dressing sounds amazing!

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  4. I love a good hearty salad that's a meal in itself... the combo here is perfect for this Spring transition too... ah... tummy's grumbling now... I need a fix!

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  5. Mmmmm - only 6 months to go and we too can be enjoying your delicious looking salad ;-)

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  6. Thanks everyone. I meant to add that this dressing is good on pasta or stirred through rice (or eaten with a spoon...)

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  7. I'm craving meals with lots of veggies at the moment so this looks perfect for me!

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