What’s On My Table, With Alexandra Dudley
I’m having a bit of a love affair with lentils at the moment and have been making variations of this salad each week. It’s a great one to have ready in the fridge as a quick midweek lunch. I love the convenience of ready cooked lentils. I’ve used the lengthy Romano peppers in this which have a slightly softer texture and sweeter flavour than bell peppers, but if you can’t find them, bell peppers will work just as well. Any other vegetables would make a great addition. Often, I will add roasted sweet potato, aubergine or broccoli or blanched green beans or peas.
Roasted Romano Pepper, Lentil & Feta Salad
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Slice the peppers into roughly 0.5cm strips, discarding the seeds and core. Peel and quarter the shallots.
Transfer the peppers and shallot to a roasting tray and toss with olive oil and a good pinch of salt. Cook for 30 minutes until the shallot has softened and the peppers are charred in places. Allow the peppers and shallots to come to room temperature.
Finely chop the mint and parsley.
Add a good few glugs of olive oil to a large bowl along with the red wine vinegar, lemon juice and finely grate in the garlic. Whisk to combine then add the lentils, cooked peppers and shallots and chopped herbs. Toss everything together and crumble over the feta.
THE THREE THINGS ALEXANDRA'S LOVING THIS MONTH
Chargrilled Pepper Paste
£3 | Belazu
I am a big fan of Belazu’s range, and this pepper paste has become my new go-to. Inspired by Turkish biber salcasi, it is made with a blend of cha-grilled peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, smoked paprika and a splash of balsamic vinegar. I love the smokiness of it and use it to add a kick of flavour to simple pulse or grain salads. I love to stir a spoon through a lentil salad like the one above and a spoonful stirred through some thick Greek yogurt or hummus makes for a very good dip too.
Available at WAITROSE.COM
Ready To Eat Lentils
£2.25 | Merchant Gourmet
I always have a pouch of these in my cupboard for when I need a quick lunch. They are great tossed into salads for some sustenance and protein. Or when I have a bit more time, I’ll jazz them up like above. They’re seasoned already, so they are even delicious just as they are with a drizzle of olive oil.
Available at WAITROSE.COM
Spelt Radiatori Pasta
£4.95 | The Northern Pasta Co.
I am a big fan of buying British and supporting small business where I can and love The Northern Pasta Co who make their pasta with their own regeneratively grown British spelt. Its radiatori are thick ruffles of pasta that are the perfect portal for holding onto a good sauce. Think fusilli but levelled up.
Available at NORTHERNPASTA.CO.UK
AND OFF THE TABLE
Mortimer House Kitchen
I am always on the lookout for quick lunch spots when dashing between meetings in central London. Mortimer House Kitchen is just behind Oxford Circus. Italian inspired and led by executive chef Tom Cenci, the menu strikes the perfect balance between fresh and light dishes and those that are slightly more indulgent. I recommend sharing. The antipasti section is particularly good with a courgette caesar salad made with julienned courgette tossed in a punchy dressing (with the appropriate kick of anchovy) before being topped with crispy pangrattato. It is creamy yet light and one of the more interesting caesar salads in town. I shared it with a friend alongside the caprese salad and a radicchio orange salad and some of the crispy polenta with parmesan mayonnaise – which are a must order. There is a good selection of pasta dishes that change with the season, as well as some larger dishes which are also very good for serving. We ate a stunning cod dish with a vibrant green sauce and summer veg alongside a side dish of wickedly good crispy potatoes.
Visit MORTIMERHOUSEKITCHEN.COM
For more from Alexandra, follow @ALEXANDRADUDLEY or visit ALEXANDRADUDLEY.COM
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