WATERCRESS, BACON AND APPLE SALAD

October 21, 2011 Alison Lambert

This is a fantastic salad with good textures, peppery leaves and strong flavours. Watercress is fantastic at the moment apart from the fact it is highly nutritious it add so much flavour to any dish.

WARM BACON, APPLE AND WATERCRESS SALAD

Serves 4

4-8 slices bacon, cut into strips
50g toasted hazelnuts
2 apples, cored and cut into wedges

4 handfuls watercress

Dressing
1 Tbsp wholegrain mustard
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp cider vinegar
3 Tbsp good quality oil
Salt and pepper

Method
Firstly make the dressing; mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and set aside

Pick over the watercress by picking off the tips of the watercress, I like to leave them as a little bunch. With the remaining larger leaves remove these from the stalks. Place into a bowl

Add the hazelnuts and set aside.

Heat up a fry pan and cook the bacon over a moderate to high heat until the bacon starts to go crisp. Add the apple and coat in the bacon fat. Cook for a further 2 minutes or until the apple just starts to soften.

Add the hot bacon and apple to the watercress mixture. Pour the dressing into the pan and swirl around, don’t forget to get the bits of the bottom of the pan. Check for seasoning and pour over the salad. Toss gently together.

Serve immediately.