Veg Box Recipes: Fennel, Courgette & Goats Cheese Warm Salad with optional bacon

To make this recipe you will need:

• 3 large courgettes, sliced into long strips (or use a vegetable peeler);

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tbsp fennel seeds

• 150g streaky bacon, chopped (if using)

• 1 large fennel bulb, finely sliced

• 200g soft goat’s cheese, crumbled

• Juice of ½ lemon

• 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

And here’s how to do it…

1. Toss the courgettes in a bowl with the olive oil and fennel seeds and leave for 10 minutes. Heat a griddle pan and cook the courgettes for a few minutes each side until tender.
2. Meanwhile, in a frying pan, dry-fry the bacon until crispy, then drain on kitchen paper. Place the fennel in a large bowl and mix with the warm courgettes, bacon and goat’s cheese.
3. Mix the lemon juice with the extra-virgin olive oil, season and drizzle over the salad. Serve the salad with crusty fresh bread.

Delicious Magazine, June 2009