Sweet potato, tuna, fennel, orange, olive and pita salad recipe

Name: Sweet potato, tuna, fennel, orange, olive and pita salad recipe
Cook time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Contemporary
Ingredients: 2 large purple sweet potatoes, cut lengthways into 2cm slices; 80ml extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra; salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper; 3 small white pita rounds, split open; 1 orange, zested and juiced; ½ lemon, juiced; ½ tsp ground cumin; 1 long green chilli, finely sliced; 8 kalamata olives, pitted and chopped; 2 oranges, peeled and sliced; 1 large fennel bulb, cut into 5mm slices, fronds reserved; 2 tbsp mayonnaise; 375g tin tuna, drained

Karen Martini

January 8, 2018

easyTime:< 30 minsServes:4

I'm a big fan of a fennel and orange salad, and often eat the most rustic of versions as a quick side dish. This salad is a bit more involved, taking that classic combination of flavours but threading in ideas from both salade Nicoise and fattoush. This is a pretty complete meal on its own, perfect for lunch or a light dinner, but if you skip the tuna, it also makes a great side for grilled fish or pork.

Ingredients

2 large purple sweet potatoes, cut lengthways into 2cm slices
80ml extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra
salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper
3 small white pita rounds, split open
1 orange, zested and juiced
½ lemon, juiced
½ tsp ground cumin
1 long green chilli, finely sliced
8 kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
2 oranges, peeled and sliced
1 large fennel bulb, cut into 5mm slices, fronds reserved
2 tbsp mayonnaise
375g tin tuna, drained

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 160C fan-forced or 180C conventional. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
2. Toss the sweet potato in a little oil, season with salt and pepper and roast on the prepared tray for 30 minutes until tender. Set aside to cool.
3. Open out the pitas on a baking tray and bake for 10–15 minutes until crisp and lightly golden. Set aside to cool and crisp up.
4. To make the dressing, add 80 millilitres of oil, the orange zest and juice, lemon juice, cumin, chilli and olives to a medium bowl, season with pepper and combine. Add the orange slices and toss.
5. Arrange the sweet potato on a serving plate and follow with the sliced fennel, mayonnaise and chunks of tuna. Break up the pita, quickly toss through the dressing and tip over the salad. Garnish with the fennel fronds and serve.
Tips
1. Try adding some soft herbs, such as dill, mint or flat-leaf parsley.
2. Try this with roasted dutch carrots instead of sweet potato.
3. Lighten this by using yoghurt rather than mayonnaise.