Pear and fennel salad with caraway and pecorino

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.

4 people

Serving size

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Add the dill, rocket, pear and pecorino to the fennel bowl, pour on the dressing, toss lightly and serve.