Filling Salads

I absolutely love fresh and seasonal ingredients. I love the fact that these ingredients are easy to acquire,  cheap to buy and add flavour and freshness to any flavour. I always find interesting ways to incorporate fresh ingredients into any meal i make. I find that salads are the best way to incorporate freshness to any meal. Salads can be made with anything you have in your cupboard or fridge, I love making filling salads that serve as main dishes and not just sides. I am posting my favourite filling salads, these are easy to make and work well for lunch or dinner.

BULGHUR AND BUTTERNUT SALAD

You'll need:

1 medium butternut, cubed

1 red onion, cut into wedges

4 baby marrows, sliced

40ml olive oil

250g bulgur wheat

500ml vegetable stock

50g green olives

50g black olives

100g feta cheese

your favourite salad dressing

Here's how:

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees
2. place butternut, onion,baby marrows on a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil and roast in the oven for 30minutes, turning constantly
3. while veggies are roasting, place bulgur wheat and warm stock in a bowl, cover with cling wrap and leave top soak for 20minutes
4. fluff out with a fork and set aside
5. add the roasted veggies,olives and dressing to the bulgur wheat, mix well
6. place on a platter, top with feta cheese
7. serve

LENTIL AND STEAK SALAD

You'll Need:

350g Sirloin steak

1tsp paprika

1 tbsp olive oil

100g canned lentils

50g green beans

2 carrots, grated

6 baby tomatoes, cut in half

1 tbsp parsley, chopped

1tbsp mint, chopped

50ml olive oil

40ml balsamic vinegar

1 tsp mustard

1 tsp honey

Here's how:

1. season steak with paprika, salt and pepper. Heat pan, drizzle with olive oil, cook steak for 3mins on each side, set aside to rest
2. while steak cooks, bring green beans to a boil in a saucepan with 200ml water, allow to cook for 2mins, drain and submerge in iced  water for 5mins, drain water and set beans aside
3. in a bowl mix lentils, carrots, herbs, beans, tomatoes and salad dressing together and place on a platter
4. top with steak
5. serve