Summer salads

Now I know us Brits love to bang on about the weather so just bear with me for ten seconds whilst I say...finally summer has arrived! I had almost forgotten how beautiful this country is when bathed in sunshine. The only problem is, you never know how much longer it is going to last. So my advice is to down tools, switch off your computer (after reading this of course!), head outside and light the barbie!

For the ultimate outdoor eating experience, I call upon simple, fresh and zesty barbecue accompaniments. I'm not going to run through a step by step guide, we all know how to chop up ingredients, but I thought I would just give you some inspiration with some of the salads I have been enjoying recently.

First up nectarines. Just quickly slices and dressed with some good quality olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice, a few twists of black pepper, a pinch of salt and some roughly chopped mint. The sharpness of the fruit makes this a delicious companion to grilled chicken or lamb.

Beets and feta. Chop up about 4 cooked beets and crumble half a pack of feta and sprinkle with slices spring onions. Dress with a little olive oil and bruised cumin seeds. So so quick and tasty. The earthy beetroot and tangy feta make for the perfect summer combo.

Last but by no means least, this little number. Mixed bean and roasted peppers. I used borlotti and broad beans as thats what I had in the fridge but go wild with whatever beans and pulses you fancy.I just simply tossed all the beans and sliced up roasted peppers in a bowl and seasoned with salt and a little mint for freshness of flavour.
It would be lovely with butter beans and chick peas thrown into the mix as well.

Bright colours never fail to liven up a lunch table so head outside and get your grill on! We need to enjoy as much of this weather as possible.