Strawberry and Basil Salad- vegan

A fruity Summer side dish!

We are still enjoying what must be the longest strawberry-growing season here in the UK for years! They are irresistible snacks and smoothie ingredients, but can also make an interesting salad when teamed with fresh herbs and leaves and chunky cucumber pieces.

In your salad bowl, make a bed of lettuce (red oakleaf is what we used here) and / or rocket, then add halved strawberries mixed with chunks of cucumber and fresh basil leaves. Tear the basil to release the aromatic oils that give it its distinctive flavour. As the strawberries I was using were quite sharp, I simply drizzled a little extra-virgin olive oil over the salad and sprinkled it with coarse black pepper. (You could get away with a little lemon juice or balsamic vinegar if your strawberries are sweeter.)

This salad bowl makes an attractive addition to your table.