Almond & Lemon Zest Green Beans
Crisp-tender green beans tossed with toasted almonds, garlic and lemon zest for a quick, bright side dish.
Refreshing Seven Layer Summer Salad
This classic seven layer salad is built for summer tables: crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, eggs, carrot, peas and a creamy topping, all finished with cheddar.
It is easy to make ahead, looks great in a glass bowl and holds up well for parties, picnics and barbecues. Chill it before serving so the layers settle and every spoonful stays cool and fresh.
Method
25m9m1h 34m
- Bring a pan of water to the boil, add the eggs and simmer for 9 minutes. Drain, cool under cold water, then peel and slice.
- If using frozen peas, cover them with boiling water for 2 minutes, then drain well and leave to cool.
- Choose a deep glass serving bowl or trifle dish so the layers are visible. Pat the lettuce dry and spread it over the base.
- Season the lettuce lightly, then add the tomatoes, cucumber and red onion in neat, even layers, adding a small pinch of salt to the juicy vegetables as you go.
- Add the sliced eggs, then scatter over the grated carrot, sliced spring onions and peas to build the remaining layers.
- Mix the mayonnaise and sour cream in a small bowl with a pinch of black pepper. Spread the dressing gently over the top to seal the salad.
- Finish with the grated cheddar. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour before serving so the layers settle and the flavours meld.
- Serve cold, scooping right down to the bottom of the bowl so each portion includes every layer.
Ingredients
- 150g Peas frozen, defrosted
- 1 large Lettuce crisp, shredded
- 4 Large free-range eggs hard-boiled and sliced
- 150ml Sour Cream
- 1/2 Red Onion small, very finely sliced
- 150g Mature cheddar cheese grated
- 2 Carrots medium, grated
- 4 Ripe Tomatoes ripe, sliced
- 4 Spring onions finely sliced
- 1 Cucumber large, thinly sliced
- 200ml Mayonnaise
Notes
Pat the lettuce and cucumber dry so the layers stay crisp and the dressing does not become watery.
You can make the salad several hours ahead and keep it chilled until serving.
For extra bite, add a few sliced radishes or a little crispy bacon on top just before serving.
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