Name: Pear and fennel salad with caraway and pecorino
Ingredients: 3 tbsp lemon juice; 1 tbsp sherry vinegar; 1 large fennel bulb, cut in half lengthways, then each half cut widthways into 2mm slices; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1½ tsp caraway seeds, toasted and lightly crushed; 1 tsp maple syrup; salt and black pepper; 10g picked dill; 75g rocket; 3 medium ripe conference pears, peeled, quartered lengthways, cored and cut into 0.5cm wedges; 60g pecorino, thinly shaved

Pear and fennel salad with caraway and pecorino

Salad Autumn

Serves 4

This autumnal salad makes a real statement at the start of a meal. It is wonderfully fresh yet substantial and very distinctive in flavour. Make sure your pears are nice and sweet.

Ingredients

3 tbsp	lemon juice
1 tbsp	sherry vinegar
1	large fennel bulb, cut in half lengthways, then each half cut widthways into 2mm slices
2 tbsp	olive oil
1½ tsp	caraway seeds, toasted and lightly crushed
1 tsp	maple syrup
	salt and black pepper
10g	picked dill
75g	rocket
3	medium ripe conference pears, peeled, quartered lengthways, cored and cut into 0.5cm wedges
60g	pecorino, thinly shaved

Method

Mix the lemon juice and vinegar in a large bowl. Add the fennel and leave to soften for about 45 minutes, stirring from time to time.
Put the oil, caraway, maple syrup, a quarter-teaspoon of salt and some black pepper into a small bowl, strain in the lemon and vinegar from the fennel bowl and stir well.
Add the dill, rocket, pear and pecorino to the fennel bowl, pour on the dressing, toss lightly and serve.