by Abylene Chalmers
5th August 2022
Light Meals, Sides & Soups
Seasonal Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing

Even though we usually think of long hot summer days when the word salad is mentioned, it is possible to find ingredients for a simple salad during most of the year, and in the depths of winter eating a nutrient rich salad with a dressing made of lemon and garlic is especially welcomed.
The spring salad could consist of rocket, lettuce, coriander, nasturtium flowers and leaves, baby broccoli leaves, garlic shoots, parsley, mint, spring onions, radish, borage flowers, fennel bulbs and tops ...the list goes on. Â
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As the weather warms up the last of the lettuce gets replaced with beetroot leaves, and herbs such as basil and mint. Fruits such as tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchinis add a meatiness to summer salads while the addition of rocket leaves and flowers gives a welcome buttery flavour. Â
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During autumn the lettuces make an appearance again in our garden, and the beetroot leaves are still being harvested, along with silverbeet, baby kale, and edible flowers like marigolds, calendula and nasturtium. As the nasturtium goes to seed the wee pods add a spicy crunch.
Over winter I might use baby kale, lambs ears lettuce, spinach, rocket, or even baby silverbeet leaves from a plant that is about to go to seed, and then fennel as the bulbs plump up and it gets closer to spring.Â
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The honey mustard dressing is a lovely, fresh dressing which can be used with all these salad combinations to create a beautiful simple seasonal salad. If you like you could make up a large batch to keep in the fridge so you always have some on hand.
Seasonal Salad with
Honey Mustard Dressing
Makes enough dressing for one large saladÂ
​IngredientsÂ
​For the saladÂ
A selection of leafy greens, herbs, flowers and any other seasonal salad ingredients you would like to use, enough to fill a large salad bowl.
​For the dressing
Juice from ½ large lemonÂ
1 large clove of garlic, crushedÂ
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oilÂ
1 teaspoon liquid honeyÂ
1 teaspoon wholegrain mustardÂ
MethodÂ
Gather all your salad ingredients and wash them well, then pat to dry. Place into a large salad bowl.Â
Make the dressing by combining all the ingredients together in a jar, then place the lid on the jar and shake well to combine.Â
Dress the salad just before eating, or alternatively place a jug of dressing on the table so everyone has the option to dress their own salad.

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