food to glow

This mix of soft herbs and avocado, crunchy cashews, bursting pineapple and the drinkable dressing is heavenly; the key is to have everything chopped, sliced and otherwise prepped before assembling.

Add cooked chicken or prawns if you aren’t bothered about keeping it vegan. Play with other additions, too: blanched mung bean sprouts, shredded carrot, fried tofu, spring onions. But don’t forget the pineapple. It’s a knockout. And the salad is full of healthy, satisfying fats, too.

Amounts are approximate; use weights and measures as you see fit. The dressing will do for two plates. Enjoy. xx

Two large handfuls of watercress or rocket (or spicy leaves of any kind) OR spinach, rocket, watercress salad mix

1/4 small ripe pineapple, peeled, cored and thinly sliced or as chunks (you may have ore than needed here)

1/4 (English/hothouse) cucumber, deseeded and thinly sliced

Handful of radishes, topped, tailed and thinly sliced

Coriander/cilantro leaves, picked over – about a palmful

Mint leaves (Vietnamese if you can get it), picked over – about a palmful

50-75g raw cashews, either roasted in a 180C oven for 8 minutes or dry-toasted in a pan on the hob, cooled

2 heaped tbsp puffed brown rice or quinoa, lightly toasted in oven or dry pan – optional

2 heaped tbsp large coconut flakes, lightly toasted as above

1 small ripe, creamy avocado, sliced

2 tbsp crispy, salt-free shallots (found in tubs in any Chinese supermarket and many grocery stores)

Palmful of sprouts, such as quinoa and broccoli (I use Good 4 U Nutrition ones, available at Tesco and Sainsburys)

Lime wedges, to serve

The Thai Dressing

1 tbsp light soy sauce, coconut aminos or fish sauce

Juice of half a large lime

Any pineapple juice leftover from your chopping duties

1 fresh red chilli, deseeded and very finely chopped (nibble the tip of the chilli for hotness and judge whether to use it all or not)

1 flat tsp palm sugar or light brown sugar – more to taste

Method:

1. Mix of the dressing and set aside for the sugar to melt.

2. Layer all of the ingredients onto each plate, ending with the puffed rice, coconut and shallots. Drizzle over the dressing just before serving.

Variation: add drifts of cooked vermicelli rice noodles for a “Summer Roll” salad.