Roasted Fennel & Tomato Salad with Lemon
INGREDIENTS
For the fennel
- 2 bulbs fennel, quartered reserve fronds for garnish
 - juice of ½ a lemon
 - 1tspn crushed garlic
 - ½ tspn crushed fennel seeds
 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil
 
For the tomatoes
- 4 tomatoes, halved
 - 1 tspn dried chipotle chilli flakes
 - sea salt and cracked black pepper
 - drizzle of balsamic glaze
 - 4-5 tbsp vegetable oil
 
Lemon dressing
- 2 preserved lemon, skin only, finely diced
 - juice from the other ½ a lemon
 - 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
 - 1 tbsp honey
 - 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
 - 2 sprigs parsley or coriander (chopped)
 
METHOD
- Preheat the oven to 190°C/ fan 170°C / gas mark 5.
 - Place the ingredients for fennel in a bowl, and stir gently to coat.Place in a roasting tray, cover with foil and roast for 30 minutes, uncover and return to oven for a further 15 minutes. Do check its soft.
 - Place the tomatoes in a second roasting tray and roast for 30-45 minutes.
 - Make the dressing, add all the ingredients to a mini blender and blitz briefly. Taste, it should have a good balance of sweet and sour adjust to your liking.
 - Arrange the fennel and tomatoes on a platter, add any remaining juices from the tomatoes to the dressing, pour over the dressing. Leave to stand for 30 minutes. Serve whist it’s still warm garnished with fennel fronds.
 - This is great served on top of a bed of rice, couscous, a tin of drained chick peas or white beans.