Epic summer salad

This exquisite salad creation is tailor-made for vibrant summer occasions such as BBQs and buffets. It’s a delightful medley of ingredients that requires no cooking but guarantees a burst of flavors. Serve it alongside succulent lamb kebabs to elevate your summer gatherings to an impressive culinary level.

Ingredients

• 400g drained black beans
• 2 generous handfuls of baby spinach leaves, roughly chopped
• 500g heritage tomatoes, chopped into large chunks
• ½ cucumber, halved lengthwise, seeds removed, and sliced diagonally
• 1 mango, peeled and chopped into chunks
• 1 large red onion, halved and finely sliced
• 6-8 radishes, thinly sliced
• 2 avocados, peeled and sliced
• 100g crumbled feta cheese
• A handful of herbs (reserved from the dressing)

Dressing

• 1 large bunch of mint
• 1 small bunch of coriander
• 1 small bunch of basil
• 1 fat green chilli, deseeded and chopped
• 1 small garlic clove
• 100ml extra virgin olive oil or rapeseed oil
• Zest and juice of 2 limes
• 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
• 2 tsp honey

Instructions

Step 1: Creating the Dressing Begin by preparing the dressing. Either blend all the dressing ingredients in a food processor or finely chop them, ensuring to reserve a few herb leaves for the final salad presentation. The dressing can be made up to 24 hours in advance before serving. Step 2: Assembling the Salad Spread the black beans and chopped spinach evenly over a large platter. Artfully arrange the heritage tomatoes, cucumber, mango, onion, and radishes atop the beans and spinach. Gently toss these elements together by hand. Finally, adorn the salad with slices of avocado, crumbled feta cheese, and the reserved herbs. Serve the dressing on the side, allowing guests to drizzle it according to their preferences. Conclusion: This epic summer salad is a testament to the freshest seasonal produce harmoniously combined to tantalize taste buds. Its vibrant medley of textures and flavors is a surefire hit at any summer gathering.