BROAD BEAN AND LITTLE GEM SALAD
BROAD BEAN AND LITTLE GEM SALAD
BROAD BEAN AND LITTLE GEM SALAD

Ingredients
  • 450g/1lb thick slices white bread
  • 6 tbsp olive oil
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 300g/10oz frozen baby broad beans
  • 6 Little Gem lettuces
  • 100g/3½oz parmesan cheese
  • or vegetarian hard cheese
  • cut into shavings with a vegetable peeler
  • 3 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 5 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 8 tbsp olive oil
  • 5 tbsp double or single cream
  • 1 rounded tbsp caster sugar
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
  • For the croûtons
  • preheat the grill to hot. Cut the crusts off the bread and discard. Cut the bread into even-sized small cubes. Sit a plastic bag in a bowl
  • pour in the oil and season with salt and pepper.
  • Add the cubed croûton to the bag and shake
  • tossing the cubes in the seasoned oil. Tip the bread out on a baking tray and place under the grill. Turn until they’re evenly browned – watch them all the time to prevent scorching and shake occasionally to make sure they brown evenly.
  • For the salad
  • cook the broad beans in boiling water for about 3–4 minutes
  • or until tender. Drain and refresh in cold water. Remove the beans from their pods and set aside.
  • Trim the very ends off of the Little Gem lettuces but keep the root intact. Slice each lettuce into six wedges. Arrange on a platter
  • scatter with beans and parmesan and season with salt and pepper.
  • For the mustard dressing
  • measure all of the dressing ingredients into a clean jam jar
  • season with salt and pepper and seal with a lid and shake until combined. Pour over the dressing
  • toss and serve.