Inspiration

What’s in Season? Apples and Pears

Nothing quite beats the classic crunch of a crisp apple or juicy pear.
Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Taylors Gold and Beurre Bosc; they’re all crisp, sweet and full of flavour; and now’s the time to buy them by the bag full!

These fruit are more than just a lunchbox filler – the only limit is your imagination.

Sweet treats like apple pie and poached pears might be the classic go-to, but as the base of a scrumptious salad, apples and pears add the perfect fresh and fruity crunch.

Check out these tasty salad recipes from 5+ A Day, featuring the perfect mix of sweet and savoury using apples and pears! With the unpredictable autumn weather giving us a mix of sunny and chilly days, you can choose to cool down with a chilled salad or keep toasty with a warm one.

Apple, Cranberry and Spinach Salad

Serves: 6 as a side | Preparation: 10 minutes | Cooking: none


Ingredients
  • 3 to 4 handfuls of baby spinach
  • 1 red apple, thinly sliced
  • 1 green apple, thinly sliced
  • 1 handful of toasted almonds
  • 100g crumbled feta cheese
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries

Dressing
  • 2 tablespoons of pomegranate balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • Black pepper

Method

1. Slice apple thinly and squeeze over lemon juice to stop browning

2. On a platter layer spinach, cranberries, nuts and cheese

3. Combine the dressing ingredients and pour over salad just before serving


Roasted Nashi Pear Salad with Garlic Chilli Prawns

Serves: 6 | Preparation: 10 minutes | Cooking: 20 minutes


Ingredients
  • 6 Nashi Pears, cored, quartered
  • 12 prawns
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely sliced
  • 1 red chilli, finely sliced
  • Olive oil
  • 4 or 5 handfuls of salad leaves
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1 handful of walnuts, toasted

Marinade for Nashi Pears
  • Splash of extra virgin olive oil
  • Splash of balsamic vinegar (we used pomegranate)
  • 1 teaspoon grainy mustard
  • 2 tablespoons honey

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C

2. In a bowl, combine marinade ingredients with the Nashi Pears. Mix to cover the pears in the marinade

3. Transfer the pears to a roasting pan and roast in the oven for about 20 minutes (the pears will be slightly caramelised)

4. Toast the walnuts in pan for about 4 or 5 minutes with a sprinkle of salt. Toss frequently to avoid burning them

5. In a frying pan, heat oil with garlic and chilli. Add prawns and sauté for 3-4 minutes until they are cooked through (the colour will change to pink). Toss through lemon juice

6. Arrange salad greens on a platter and top with Nashi Pears and prawns. Sprinkle with walnuts and serve



Recipe courtesy of 5+ A Day. Search 5adaynz on social media and like them for fresh inspiration & recipes.

Next Previous Monday, 20 March 2017