Rocket, red pepper and pine nut salad
Rocket is a hot, pungent salad leaf with a taste reminiscent of mustard or watercress. It adds a lot of flavour to salads and makes a change from the usual lettuce leaves. The wild plant is sometimes called 'Yellow rocket' as it produces an abundance of bright yellow flowers. I read that the cultivated form of rocket which is currently popular was discovered growing in the ruins of Pompeii.
Ingredients
2 red peppers
A large bunch of rocket
A small handful of pine nuts
A little olive oil
A splash of balsamic vinegar
Salt
Core the peppers and slice lengthways into thick strips. Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the pepper strips, skin-side down, on a high heat for three or four minutes. Put the peppers and oil in a bowl and return the pan to the heat. Roast the pine nuts for about thirty seconds. Put the pine nuts in the bowl with the peppers and leave to cool.
Add whole or roughly chopped rocket to the peppers and nuts along with a pinch of salt. Mix everything together and add a splash of balsamic vinegar. Mix once more and serve.