Fool-proof green salad

There is nothing worse than a boring bowl of green leaves served at a table with a meal. I like to add some crunchy vegetables to it and I have a trick to let you make this ahead so that the lettuce doesn’t wilt even though you have prepared it a couple of hours ago!

Mary Berry recipes
From Mary Berry Cooks

Ingredients

For the dill dressing

• 8 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tbsp white wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp caster sugar
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 bunch fresh dill, chopped

For the salad

• 8 spring onions, trimmed
• 8 celery sticks, trimmed
• 1 small fennel bulb, trimmed
• ½ large cucumber
• 200g/7oz pack mixed salad leaves
• 1 Romaine lettuce
• 100g/3½oz pack rocket or watercress

Method

1. For the dressing, put the oil, white wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, mustard, sugar and salt and pepper into a bowl and whisk until evenly combined and thickened. Taste and season accordingly and then add the dill.

2. Finely slice the spring onions, celery and fennel and place in a large salad bowl. Add the dressing and toss well.

3. Cut the cucumber in half lengthways, then cut across into thick slices. Tear the lettuce into manageable-sized pieces. Place half of the cucumber and half of the leaves in the bowl. Season and then top with the remaining cucumber and leaves. Season well and chill for up to four hours

4. Just before serving toss everything together.

Recipe Tips

Don’t toss everything together until ready to serve, as the dressing will soften the leaves. The dressing can be chilled in the fridge for up to a week in a screw top jar. Just give it a good shake before using and add the dill just before serving. Use the best quality olive oil for the best flavour.