
I love mixing textures of cooked and raw vegetables in salads. In this case, soft wilted spinach with shaved fennel and apple that add sweetness and crunch, while the pistachio butter adds nutty creaminess. I also throw a few crushed, deeply toasted fennel seeds in to add a bit more interest.
If you’re lucky enough to find beautiful spinach clusters with the roots attached, leave those on as they look so beautiful on the plate.
2 bunches english spinach, large, large stems trimmed
1 large fennel bulb
1 sweet apple, large
2 tsp fennel seeds, darkly toasted
1⁄2 lemon, zested
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 lemon, juiced
50 g pistachios, toasted
20 ml olive oil
Turn your recipe chaos into a plan for the week.
Browse 1000+ inspiring creator recipes
Unlimited recipe import from social media, blogs and more
Generate shopping lists and meal plans in seconds with AI
First, wash the really well as it can be quite sandy.
Heat a wide frying pan over a medium heat, add the with a pinch of salt, cover with a lid and sauté for 1 minute. The water that clings to the leaves will steam the spinach without the need to add anything else.
When just wilted, remove from the pan and set aside to cool.
Once cool, squeeze gently to remove any excess moisture.
To make the pistachio butter, crush the toasted in a mortar and pestle until they begin to form a paste. Add the with a pinch of salt and mix to combine. Set aside.
Cut the core from the and remove any tough, browned outer leaves. Cut the fennel down the middle and slice very thinly on a mandoline or using a knife if it’s good and sharp.
Slice the the same way, being careful to stop when you begin to hit the core. Toss these shavings in a bowl with the . Add the , , , salt and pepper and enough to brighten everything.
Assemble on your plate so that everything is layered and gently stacked. Drizzle the top with the pistachio butter and serve.
If your pistachio butter is very thick, mix with a small amount of boiling water to loosen.