In Ireland we have fantastic cheese producers who make excellent quality cheese. The fig, apple and walnuts in this salad recipe offer diverse flavours and textures when matched with the soft goat’s cheese and refreshing rice vinegar dressing. This is a favourite in my house during the summer months.
Serves 1–2 people
Ingredients:
Salad
– 100g mixed salad leaves
– 1 fresh fig, cut into bite-size pieces (if fresh figs are not available use dried fig or add more apple instead)
– ½ pink lady apple, cut into matchsticks
– 80g soft goat’s cheese, rolled into small balls using a teaspoon
– handful of chopped walnuts to serve
Dressing
– 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
– 1 tablespoon olive oil
– 2 teaspoons brown sugar
Method:
1. Pour all the ingredients for the salad dressing into an empty jam jar, put the lid on and shake well until the sugar is dissolved.
2. Toss all the salad ingredients (except the walnuts) into a salad bowl.
3. Just before serving pour the salad dressing over the salad and mix well using your hands.
4. Place a handful of walnuts on top and serve.
Fiona Uyema spent three years in Japan, where she learned about Japanese food. She has appeared on TV and featured in many publications, including the Irish Independent, The Irish Times, EasyFood magazine, FOOD&WINE and the RTÉ Guide. In her cookbook ‘Japanese Food Made Easy’ Fiona shares her love of Japanese cooking, known for its health benefits and carefully balanced flavours. Using local ingredients where possible, she demonstrates how easy it is to cook Japanese food at home without spending hours preparing complicated dishes.
Fiona Uyema Fiona Uyema