Ingredients
- 24 broccolini stems (usually 2 bunches)
- 50 grams bocconcini cheese, sliced
- 25 grams pine nuts, toasted
- 20 grams goji berries
- ½ tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted
Asian-Inspired Dressing
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon wasabi paste
Instructions
- Start by making the dressing. Add all dressing ingredients together in a small mixing bowl and mix until well combined.
- Place a large pot of water on to boil. Once the water is boiling, add the broccolini and cook for 3 minutes.
- Once cooked, use a pair of tongs to transfer the broccolini to a large bowl of iced water. Drain well afterwards.
- Arrange the brocollini on a serving plate/bowl. Top with bocconcini slices and scatter the goji berries, pine nuts and sesame seeds.
- Drizzle with dressing just before serving.
With the warm weather that we have been having as of late, no-one wants to be inside cooking. This salad is great served cold, and can easily be prepared ahead of time, leaving you to just add the dressing before you serve.
If you have never heard of broccolini before, now is the time to go and check it out. Although, often mistaken as baby broccoli, this is not the case. Broccolini is a hybrid, that has been created as a cross between broccoli and chinese broccoli. In comparison to regular broccoli, broccolini has a milder and sweeter taste. It roasts and grills up quite nicely if you are looking for other ways to try cooking it.
The fillings for this salad
The process we use in this recipe to prepare the broccolini is known as blanching. Through this process we soften the broccolini and intensify the color. Blanching is often done in conjunction with a separate step, known as shocking, this process will stop the blanched items from continuing to cook. The key with shocking any food, is to not leave it in the iced water for too long, otherwise the food will absorb some of the water and become soggy. Let the broccolini chill for long enough, until it is no longer warm, then drain thoroughly until needed.
While the ingredients chosen are simple, they really work for this salad. Don’t miss out on toasting the sesame seeds and pine nuts, this really add an extra layer of flavor.
Goji berries generally are found in the dried fruit section of your supermarket. If you can’t find them there, try the health food or organic section.
Bocconcini is a great choice of cheese. If you can’t find this, you can try a soft buffalo mozzarella torn apart into small pieces. They are a similar product and the mozzarella will work just as nicely.
If you are wanting a bit of a stronger flavor with the sauce, try increasing the quantity of wasabi paste up to 1 teaspoon instead.
