Fresh, colourful and full of seasonal produce, this is the kind of salad that makes spring lunches feel a little more exciting. Pick up crisp asparagus, sweet peas, avocado and fresh herbs from Fresh4Less or Woolworths, then add feta and toasted pistachios for extra flavour and crunch. A zesty herb dressing brings it all together.

It’s light enough to serve alongside a barbecue or roast, but filling enough to enjoy on its own. Most of the ingredients need very little preparation, so you can grab what you need on your next shop and have a fresh spring salad on the table without spending ages in the kitchen.

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Ingredients

Salad

• 1 bunch asparagus, tender parts chopped into 2–3cm pieces

• ½ cup frozen peas, thawed

• A few handfuls of salad greens

• 2 radishes, thinly sliced

• ½ cup crumbled feta

• ½ avocado, diced

• ¼ cup toasted pistachios, roughly chopped

• ½ cup roasted chickpeas

• Fresh basil, mint and/or chives, to serve

• Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper

Herby Lemon Dressing

• ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, or a mix of basil and mint

• 1 small garlic clove

• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

• ½ tsp lemon zest

• 1 tbsp white wine vinegar

• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

• ¼ tsp sea salt

Method

1. Blanch the asparagus. Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Add the asparagus and cook for about 1 minute, keeping it bright green with a little crunch. Transfer straight into a bowl of iced water, then drain well.

2. Make the dressing. Add the basil, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, white wine vinegar, olive oil and salt to a food processor. Blitz until combined. Taste and adjust with a little extra olive oil, lemon or seasoning if needed.

3. Dress the vegetables. Place the asparagus and peas in a bowl. Add half of the dressing and toss gently. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Build the salad. Spread the salad greens over a large serving platter. Spoon over the asparagus and peas, then arrange the radish, feta, avocado, pistachios, roasted chickpeas and fresh herbs on top.

5. Finish and serve. Drizzle over the remaining dressing, add another crack of black pepper and serve straight away.

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Make It a Spring Favourite

Fresh produce, a handful of pantry staples and a bright homemade dressing are all it takes to bring this salad together. Pick up what you need, then let the seasonal ingredients do the work. Serve it at your next spring lunch, bring it along to a barbeque or keep it on hand for an easy weeknight meal.