FAST FOOD

Roast beetroot and caramelised walnut salad with goat’s curd, pomegranate and preserved lemon

Serves 4



Salad
12   baby beetroot, boiled, peeled and trimmed
1 cm   olive oil
4   vine-ripened tomatoes, each cut into 6 wedges
1 cup   firmly packed rocket
1   pomegranate, seeds of
2   wedges of preserved lemon, flesh removed, rind cut into julienne
1 cup   loosely packed flat-leaf parsley, coarsely chopped
150 gm   goat’s curd
Caramelised walnuts
50 gm (½ cup)   walnuts
1½ tbsp   icing sugar
For shallow-frying:   olive oil
Pinch   cayenne
Walnut and paprika dressing
½ cup   walnut oil
2½ tbsp   extra-virgin olive oil
½ tsp   smoked paprika
3 tsp   chardonnay vinegar
2 tsp   lemon juice


1 For caramelised walnuts, cook walnuts in a saucepan of boiling water for 5 minutes, drain, then pat dry on absorbent paper. Place walnuts and icing sugar in a bowl and toss to coat well. Heat 1cm oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add walnuts and cook for 2 minutes or until golden, then drain on absorbent paper. Season to taste and sprinkle with cayenne, then cool and chop coarsely.
2 For walnut and paprika dressing, place oils in a small saucepan and heat over low heat until just lukewarm, then add paprika and stand for 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, add vinegar and lemon juice, season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground white pepper and whisk to combine. Makes about 200ml.
3 Place beetroot, tomatoes and rocket in a bowl, add ¼ cup walnut and paprika dressing, season to taste and toss to combine. Combine pomegranate seeds, chopped caramelised walnuts, preserved lemon and parsley in another bowl, add 2 tbsp dressing, season to taste and toss to combine. Divide beetroot mixture among bowls, then top with pomegranate mixture, a few small dollops of goat’s curd and drizzle with a little dressing and serve immediately.


Drink Suggestion A robust and succulent young pinot noir from Tasmania.

RECIPE George Sinclair PHOTOGRAPHY William Meppem STYLING Michaela Le Compte


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