Fennel, Pomegranate and Feta Salad

AmandaInOz's Note:

Salty and aniseedy with bursts of sour sweetness, this works as an effective palate cleanser. From Diana Henry's Crazy Water, Pickled Lemons: Enchanting Dishes from the Middle East, Mediterranean and North Africa.

• Total Time: 20 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 2 fennel bulbs
• ½ large cucumber
• ½ red onion , very finely sliced
• 1 bunch fresh coriander , roughly chopped
• 1 bunch fresh flat leaf parsley , roughly chopped
• 7 ounces feta cheese (200g)
• ½ pomegranate , seeds of

For the dressing

• 1 ½ teaspoons white wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 pinch caster sugar
• salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Mix together the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
2. Trim the fennel bulbs, reserving the fronds. Quarter the bulbs, and cut out and discard the central core. Finely slice the fennel lengthways, and toss it and the reserved fronds into the bowl containing the dressing.
3. Peel the cucumber and cut in half lengthways. Scoop out the central seeds with a teaspoon and slice the remaining flesh into half-moon shapes. Add to the bowl of dressing.
4. Add the sliced onion to the bowl. Add the herbs and crumble the feta in the bowl.
5. Toss the salad and scatter the pomegranate seeds on top- don't add the seeds before tossing as they will leach out their crimson juices.

Reviews

[Sydney Mike]

Made this as part of a vegetarian meal & served it along with Oven Roasted Green Beans for a satisfying lunch! The pomegranate used was a large one loaded with seeds, & that was a nice addition, too, since we like them a lot! A very nice, keeper of a recipe! [Tagged, made & reviewed as a PRESSIE in the Aus/NZ 12 Days of Christmas Recipe Swap]