No.47 Balsamic, Rocket, Grana Padano

This is what I would class as a store cupboard salad. A salad that is easy to make and you should only need to get some rocket on the way home from work. This works well with pasta dishes, chicken, steak and grilled fish.

In the world of balsamic vinegars you really want to buy the best you can. You ideally want to get the thick well aged balsamic that almost pours like maple syrup. This is going to mean going to a food speciality store and being willing to spend over the price of a bottle of wine. Alternatively, if you are struggling, the supermarkets have something dubiously called balsamic vinegar glaze which is balsamic vinegar with sugar syrup. This gives a hint of the true flavour but ulimatly gives the consistency needed.

Time: 5 minutes Serves: 2-3 as a side salad

70g Rocket

2 tablespoons Baslamaic vinegar or glaze

1 tablespoon Olive oil

25g Gran Padano

1. In a large bowl mix the rocket, olive oil and one tablespoon of the vinegar ensuring all the leaves are coated.
2. With a vegetable peel or box grater peel thin stripes of gran padano. Add half to the salad and mix well.
3. Assemble salad in a bowl. Add remaining gran Padano on top and drizzle with another tablespoon of balsamic.