Salad days
Salads have come a long way since the days of limp lettuce and woolly-tasting tomatoes. Feast on Delia's wonderful combinations for real summer eating.
Serves 4-6Chicken Salad with Tarragon and Grapes
This is the perfect main course salad for lunch, with perhaps some rice salad to go with it.
Serves 4-6Chick Pea Salad
Anchovies, capers, parsley and olives - plus garlicky mayo - give this bean salad plenty of punch. Chickpeas and haricots verts are a brilliant source of fibre and highly nutritious. Vegetarians could leave out the anchovies.
Serves 4Chicken Waldorf Salad
Not for nothing has this lovely main-course salad become a classic! Give it a try as it's a good way to use up leftover cooked chicken and walnuts, celery and spring onions add plenty of crunch.
Serves 4-6Dried Fruit Salad with Yoghurt and Nuts
This recipe is full of natural, good things – there is no sugar in it as I have come to the conclusion it tastes better without it.
Serves 3 as a main course or 6 as a starterCold Poached Egg Salad with Watercress Sauce
This is a kind of variation on the egg mayonnaise theme, but I think extremely attractive and even more delicious.
Serves 4Char-grilled Aubergine and Roasted Tomato Salad with Feta Cheese
As Delia says, bread dipped into fruity olive oil and tomato juices is food of the gods. But roast the tomatoes first and it’s even better! This easy salad is the perfect thing for a hot summer’s day.
Serves 6 as a starter or 4 as a main courseChickpea, Chilli and Coriander Cakes with Marinated Red Onion Salad
These are served at Norwich City Football Club and are always enjoyed by vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. They can be made in advance, if entertaining, and are a brilliant way to incorporate healthy pulses in the diet.
Serves 1Chicken Waldorf Salad
This would make a perfect main-course salad for a hot summer's day, served on a bed of crisp lettuce and garnished with watercress. A Marks & Spencer cooked chicken leg portion is the perfect size.
Serves 12 (makes 16 cakes – one per person, plus a few extra)Courgette and Potato Cakes with Mint and Feta Cheese
Courgettes, mint and feta are three ingredients that have a summery feel. Add potatoes to make little cakes and you have a treat for veggies and meat eaters alike - a great recipe for a summer buffet.
