Attempt #59: Crunchy raw beetroot salad with feta & pear

 A zingy bite for only beetroot lovers. Otherwise, do stay clear from attempting this recipe as beetroot has this strong, earthy minerally flavour that takes a while to get used to. 

The result: As you can see from the photoshot, I tried to have more pear in the salad combination but even then, it was not very palatable to my dinner guests. 

Jamie's version:

Ingredients:

4 good-sized beetroots, different colours if possible, scrubbed, peeled and cut into fine matchsticks

3 ripe pears, peeled, cored and cut into matchsticks

1 lemon oil dressing recipe

sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

200 g feta cheese

1 small bunch fresh mint, smallest leaves picked

1 large handful sunflower seeds, optional

Method:
Remember to wear an apron when chopping beetroot, and wash your board and hands afterwards or you'll get red fingerprints everywhere. If your knife skills aren't up to speed yet, buy one of those matchstick peelers or matchstick mandolins in good cook shops. Then you'll be really quick at it.

Dress the beetroot and pear matchsticks in a little of the lemon oil dressing and season with some salt and pepper. Taste to check that the flavours are balanced and lovely, and add a little more lemon juice to check the sweetness of the pears and beetroots if you need to.

Divide the salad between four plates or put it on a big platter, crumble over the creamy white feta, and sprinkle over the baby mint leaves and the sunflower seeds if you're using them. Simple, but it's a treat and a half.