Italian Inspired Spring Salad

The Italian Inspired Spring Salad is a mix of delicious flavours. There is fresh salad, creamy avocado, charcuterie and best served with crusty bread.

📝 Ingredients

• 500 g cherry tomatoes
• 1 clove of garlic
• Fresh Thyme
• Sprinkle of dried oregano
• Salt and pepper
• 4 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of sugar
• Red Chilli (optional)
• 200 g mozzarella
• 2 ripe avocados
• 200 g baby leaf salad
• 10 mint leaves
• Medium sprig of fresh thyme and oregano
• 200 g Parma ham
• 200 g thinly sliced Italian salami
• For the Dressing: 8 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon of smooth French mustard
• 1 tablespoon of sugar

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Preheat the oven to 200° C.
2. 2Chop the tomatoes into quarters and place in an oven proof dish. Finely chop the garlic and chilli and mix into the tomatoes.
3. 3Sprinkle over the salt, pepper and sugar.
4. 4Drizzle the oil over and cook for 30 minutes. Leave to cool.
5. 5Make the complete salad a few hours before serving.
6. 6In a large serving bowl mix the baby leaf salad with mint and thyme.
7. 7Rip apart the mozzarella and stud the salad with the pieces.
8. 8Pull apart the Parma Ham and Salami and add to the dish.
9. 9Peel the avocado, remove the stone and chop up into bite size pieces.
10. 10Put them in a separate bowl and lightly coat in lemon juice to stop them browning.
11. 11Add to the salad.
12. 12Spoon out the tomatoes and add them to the dish.
13. 13Keep the juice in the bottom of the oven dish and add the other dressing ingredients to it. Whisk it until combined.
14. 14Add a little extra sugar or lemon to taste.
15. 15Keep the dressing separate until ready to serve and then drizzle it over the salad.
16. 16Serve with fresh crusty bread.