Serves 4–6

GREEN BEAN & CHICKPEA SALAD

A bold, textured salad of crisp green beans and chickpeas with smoky maple bacon, toasted hazelnuts and sweet potato crisps, finished with a deep, glossy balsamic vinaigrette.

INGREDIENTS

     +    
HAZELNUT & BACON VINAIGRETTE

15g Dijon mustard

20g wholegrain mustard

50ml vegetable oil

8 cloves raw garlic, bashed

150ml balsamic vinegar

100ml olive oil

200ml vegetable oil

80g toasted hazelnuts, crushed

2g crushed black pepper

6g salt

1 tsp brown sugar

Little fresh or dried thyme

     +    
MAPLE BACON

4–5 slices bacon, cut into thin lardons

30g maple syrup

Little vegetable oil

     +    
SWEET POTATO CRISPS

2–3 small sweet potatoes

Oil for frying

     +    
SALAD

250g green beans, cooked al dente
(Cook in boiling salted water – 20g salt per litre – then refresh in cold water)

200g cooked chickpeas, drained

100g baby spinach

60g toasted hazelnuts, crushed (or flaked almonds)

Hazelnut & bacon vinaigrette

Maple bacon

Sweet potato crisps

Parmesan shavings (use a speed peeler to shave)

Method

     +    
HAZELNUT & BACON VINAIGRETTE

Place a non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat and add the 50ml vegetable oil.

Add the garlic, a little salt and pepper, and the brown sugar. Cook until caramelised.

Deglaze with the balsamic vinegar and reduce by half.

Add the remaining oils and the toasted hazelnuts, bring to a low simmer, then remove from the heat.

Stir in the Dijon and wholegrain mustards and set aside.

     +    
MAPLE BACON

Heat a little vegetable oil in a pan and cook the bacon lardons until crisp.

Deglaze with the maple syrup and cook until caramelised.

Keep the bacon and all the cooking juices to add to the salad.

     +    
SWEET POTATO CRISPS

Heat a pan of oil to 180°C.

Using a speed peeler, slice the sweet potatoes into thin strips.

Fry for 3–4 minutes until golden and crispy.

Drain on kitchen paper and season lightly.

     +    
SALAD- Assembly

Place the green beans, chickpeas, spinach and toasted nuts into a large bowl.

Add the maple bacon and enough vinaigrette to dress the salad lightly.

Season gently and mix well.

Spoon into a serving bowl and finish with Parmesan shavings, extra nuts if needed, and the sweet potato crisps on top.

Serves 4–6

GREEN BEAN & CHICKPEA SALAD

A bold, textured salad of crisp green beans and chickpeas with smoky maple bacon, toasted hazelnuts and sweet potato crisps, finished with a deep, glossy balsamic vinaigrette.

INGREDIENTS

   +  &nbsp
HAZELNUT & BACON VINAIGRETTE

15g Dijon mustard

20g wholegrain mustard

50ml vegetable oil

8 cloves raw garlic, bashed

150ml balsamic vinegar

100ml olive oil

200ml vegetable oil

80g toasted hazelnuts, crushed

2g crushed black pepper

6g salt

1 tsp brown sugar

Little fresh or dried thyme

   +   
MAPLE BACON

4–5 slices bacon, cut into thin lardons

30g maple syrup

Little vegetable oil

   +   
SWEET POTATO CRISPS

2–3 small sweet potatoes

Oil for frying

   +  &nbsp
SALAD

250g green beans, cooked al dente
(Cook in boiling salted water – 20g salt per litre – then refresh in cold water)

200g cooked chickpeas, drained

100g baby spinach

60g toasted hazelnuts, crushed (or flaked almonds)

Hazelnut & bacon vinaigrette

Maple bacon

Sweet potato crisps

Parmesan shavings (use a speed peeler to shave)

Method

   +   
HAZELNUT & BACON VINAIGRETTE

Place a non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat and add the 50ml vegetable oil.

Add the garlic, a little salt and pepper, and the brown sugar. Cook until caramelised.

Deglaze with the balsamic vinegar and reduce by half.

Add the remaining oils and the toasted hazelnuts, bring to a low simmer, then remove from the heat.

Stir in the Dijon and wholegrain mustards and set aside.

   +   
MAPLE BACON

Heat a little vegetable oil in a pan and cook the bacon lardons until crisp.

Deglaze with the maple syrup and cook until caramelised.

Keep the bacon and all the cooking juices to add to the salad.

   +   
SWEET POTATO CRISPS

Heat a pan of oil to 180°C.

Using a speed peeler, slice the sweet potatoes into thin strips.

Fry for 3–4 minutes until golden and crispy.

Drain on kitchen paper and season lightly.

   +   
SALAD- Assembly

Place the green beans, chickpeas, spinach and toasted nuts into a large bowl.

Add the maple bacon and enough vinaigrette to dress the salad lightly.

Season gently and mix well.

Spoon into a serving bowl and finish with Parmesan shavings, extra nuts if needed, and the sweet potato crisps on top.

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