Broccoli, spelt and orange salad

This broccoli, spelt and orange salad is ideal for a tangy, light lunch.

A bit of citrus in a salad perks it up beautifully and gives it a lovely tangy flavour. I use a pack of ready-cooked spelt for speed, but you can, of course, cook your own if you prefer or use any other smart carbs you like, such as cooked quinoa, pearl barley, brown rice or barley couscous. This broccoli, spelt and orange salad is so yummy.

Ingredients (serves 4)

300g ready-cooked spelt

300g Tenderstem or purple sprouting broccoli

1 tbsp olive oil

1 red chilli, deseeded and sliced

2 garlic cloves, finely sliced

2 tbsp sesame seeds, to garnish

For the dressing:

1 tbsp tahini

2 tbsp sesame oil

2 oranges

1 tsp rice vinegar

Salt and black pepper

Method

Heat up the spelt according to the packet instructions and tip it into a serving bowl.

Put the broccoli in a steamer or a colander over a pan of boiling water and steam for two minutes, then set it aside. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan, add the broccoli and cook it gently for two to three minutes. Add the chilli and garlic and fry for another minute.

To make the dressing, whisk together the tahini, sesame oil, juice of half an orange and the rice vinegar in a small jug and season with salt and black pepper. Peel and segment the remaining oranges, discarding the pith.

Mix the sautéed broccoli with the cooked spelt and add the orange segments. Pour over the dressing, scatter with sesame seeds and serve.

Recipe courtesy of Davina’s Sugar-Free In A Hurry by Davina McCall (£16.99, Orion Books)