Fresh Almond Salad

Ingredients

• 12-15 fresh almonds
• Assorted lettuce leaves, as required
• 1 small onion, sliced
• 1 medium English cucumber, vertically halved and thinly sliced 
• 2-3 small red radish, thinly sliced  
• 1 medium carrot, vertically halved and thinly sliced
• 8-10 seedless black olives, halved
• 8-10 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• Dressing
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Crushed black peppercorn to taste
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 1½ teaspoons mustard paste
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• ¼ cup orange juice
• 3 teaspoons honey
• 1 finely chopped fresh red chilli
• Garnish
• Feta cheese, cut into cubes as required
• Roughly chopped roasted almonds for garnish

Method 

1. Halve all the almonds vertically, remove the seeds and hard core. Reserve the seeds and cut the flesh of each half into 4 pieces. Thoroughly wash these pieces in water.
2. Heat sufficient water in a deep pan, add salt and bring it to a boil. Add the raw almonds and boil for 2 minutes. Drain and dip them in ice cold water.
3. Pour olive oil in a bottle, add salt, crushed black peppercorn, orange zest, mustard paste, lemon juice, orange juice, honey and fresh red chilli. Close the lid and shake till well combined.
4. Tear lettuce-leaves into small pieces and put into a large bowl, add boiled almonds, onion, English cucumber, red radish, carrot, black olives, cherry tomatoes, parsley and reserved almond seeds and mix.
5. Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and mix well.
6. Tear some more lettuce-leaves and arrange them on a serving plate. Transfer the salad over them, garnish with feta cheese cubes and roasted almonds and serve.

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