Salad of cooked spinach and peas with rocket

Serves 4

I really like the combination of cooked and raw food in salads – it creates different textures. Pea shoots (the leaves of the pea plant) are a lovely addition, tasting almost more of the peas than themselves. I serve this salad as an accompaniment to fish.

250g/8oz peas, podded
200g/7oz young spinach leaves, well rinsed
A handful of rocket
A handful of pea shoots
1tbsp Parmesan, grated
The zest and juice of one lemon
Sea salt and black pepper
80ml/3fl oz olive oil

Heat a well-salted pot of water. Once boiling, add the peas and cook for four minutes. Drain and set aside.

Place a separate pan over a medium heat and, when warm, add the well-rinsed spinach – no need to add water – and cook until just wilted.

Drain and, when cool enough to handle, squeeze out the water in the spinach using your hands – it is important the spinach is as dry as possible, or the salad will taste watery.

Wash and pat dry the rocket and pea shoots and add to the bowl along with the peas and spinach.

Season well with Parmesan, lemon zest, salt, pepper and olive oil. Toss together gently with your fingers.