Butter bean, Pea + Avocado Salad with Grains

Rich layers and textures and filling enough to eat as a main



Ingredients

  • 120g quinoa or farro or any grains you have on hand

  • 1 x 570g jar Queen Butter Beans* or any jarred large butter beans - drained

  • 100g frozen peas

  • 2 ripe avocados, cut into bite-sized chunks

  • A handful of kale or soft green leaves, chopped

For the dressing

  • 45g pumpkin seeds

  • 20g soft herbs - parsley, mint, basil and dill all work well - reserve a small handful of leaves, finely chop the rest

  • 4 tbsp olive oil

  • Juice of 1/2 lemon

  • 2 tsp preserved lemons (skin only), finely chopped - if you’re not using preserved lemons you ca, use the juice and zest of 1 whole lemon, plus 1 tbsp of white wine vinegar instead



directions

  • Bring a pot of water to the boil. Add the quinoa or grain of your choice and cook according to packet instructions.* see tip below

  • With about 3 minutes to go, add the peas to the same pot. Once cooked, drain everything and leave to steam dry.

  • Toast the pumpkin seeds in a 350º oven for 10 min or air fry for about 3 minutes

  • Meanwhile, mix together the olive oil, lemon juice and fresh lemon zest. Season well with salt and cracked black pepper, then stir through the finely chopped herbs.

  • Tip the hot pumpkin seeds into the dressing - they should sizzle and slightly deepen the flavour. Give everything a good mix. Taste and adjust with a little more olive oil or lemon to your liking.

  • Add the grains and peas to the bowl, along with the butter beans, avocado and reserved whole herbs.

  • Serve! This makes a generous bowl and keeps well in the fridge for 3 days - just add the avocado fresh if you’re making it ahead.



notes

  • Serves 4-6

  • *Available in the UK: I love these large juicy white beans as they are delicious and don’t have any preservatives

  • * Big timesaver! I never cook one serving of grains. I always cook the whole packet and freeze the leftover grains so when a recipe calls for a grain I can pop one block from the freezer.

Adapted from and thanks to Hannah Wilding for the recipe.