Rukmini Iyer, the acclaimed author known for her innovative and accessible recipes, has delighted food enthusiasts with a new offering: a pine nut crusted feta, roasted broccoli, and radish salad. This colourful and flavourful dish is presented as an ideal option for a relaxed yet special shared meal, embodying a festive spirit with its whole roast feta presentation.
The recipe emphasises ease and efficiency, making it suitable for busy individuals or those looking to prepare an impressive meal without extensive effort. Preparation time is a mere 10 minutes, followed by a 30-minute cooking period. Iyer's key tip for enhancing the dish involves blanching Tenderstem broccoli spears in boiling water prior to roasting, a technique she suggests significantly improves their texture. Crunchy radishes and spring onions, dressed with lemon, provide a fresh counterpoint to the rich feta and roasted vegetables.
To achieve the distinctive pine nut crust, the feta is generously coated with toasted pine nuts before being roasted alongside the broccoli. The vegetables are tossed with olive oil, finely grated garlic, and flaky sea salt, ensuring a savoury depth of flavour. The salad component, consisting of finely sliced radishes and spring onions, is prepared separately and steeped in cold water to crisp up. Just before serving, these are tossed with a simple dressing of extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and salt.
The dish is designed to be assembled at the last minute, allowing for much of the preparation to be done in advance. For those wishing to get ahead, the pine nut-topped feta and broccoli can be kept ready in a roasting tin in the fridge, while the radishes and spring onions can be stored in a bowl of water, and the dressing prepared separately. The feta and broccoli then require approximately 25 minutes in the oven before the final assembly.
Serving four as a side, the salad is recommended to be enjoyed immediately with focaccia, making it a versatile addition to a meze spread or as a light main course. Iyer's approach continues to focus on maximising flavour with minimal fuss, a philosophy that has garnered her a dedicated following among home cooks across the UK.