fantastic in summer or autumn to enjoy with other salads or with smoked chicken, cold chicken or kebabs. Pears that are slightly under-ripe as well as being from a firm variety are going to give the best, crisp results here.

Ingredients - serves 4

2 fennel bulbs
2 firm pears
a handful Essential walnut pieces
1 tbsp walnut oil
squeeze of lemon juice
salt, pepper)

Method

Roast the walnuts on a tray in a medium oven for a few minutes - it gives them a better flavour as well as some crunch - but be careful not to over cook or they will become bitter.

Trim the fennel bulbs and slice very thinly. Peel and core the pears and dice them before tossing in a little lemon juice (which flavours the salad and also prevents the pear from discolouring).

Place all the ingredients in a salad bowl, season with salt and pepper and toss.