Last weekend I was looking for some inspiration to cook something new. I was after something bright and colourful and full of flavour . Whenever I am in need of inspiration I take myself out to my favourite cafes and trawl the menus looking at different flavour combinations and dishes that I could tweak a little to put my own spin on it and make in the comfort of my own home.
This little creation was inspired by merging two cafe salads into one. Crispy chorizo, char-grilled asparagus, roasted capsicum and marinated feta on a bed of baby spinach, drizzled with a lovely tangy vinaigrette. How good does that sound? Pretty awesome right?
Well let me tell you, it tastes damn good too.
I love the colour in this dish, the ease of the dish and the nutrient density of the dish. It wins on all counts. So here it is, a simple cafe inspired salad that you can prepare in the comfort of your own home for a fraction of the price.
Recipe – serves 2
Ingredients:
1 chorizo, sliced thickly
1 bunch of asparagus
1 red capsicum, sliced into 4 (core removed)
1/2 red onion, sliced
1/2 jar marinated feta
2 handfuls of baby spinach (or rocket)
Dressing:
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp djorn mustard
1 tsp dried oregano
Pinch of salt for taste
Method:
Preheat the grill on your BBQ to smoking hot.
Char-grill the chorizo slices, capsicum cheeks and asparagus for 2-3 minutes each side. Then allow to cool.
Place a handful of spinach on each plate.
Add the char-grilled chorizo, capsicum and asparagus to the spinach, along with the onion and then sprinkle with feta. Add some sunflower seeds for extra crunch if you like.
In a small container, add oil, vinegar, mustard and dried herbs. Shake until well combined and then drizzle over the top of the salad. Sprinkle with a pinch of Himalayan salt for taste.
Before you dig in, take a picture of your cafe quality creation and post it on social media to inspire all your friends to make this dish too.
Enjoy!