Serrano Ham, Goats Cheese and Peach Salad | ensalada de Serrano, queso de cabra y melocotón | What is the national dish of Spain?

A real crowd pleaser and simple to boot – goats cheese salad with Serrano ham and peaches
Photograph: Wayne Morgan – nationaldish.co.uk © 2017

It’s sunny and you want something fast and healthy. This is only labelled Spanish because I used Serrano ham – but you can use any dry cured med ham, such as Parma – so it’s basically a Mediterranean thing. So much more than a goats cheese salad.

The critical thing and the reason to make this, is the peach, goats cheese and the dressing – it’s sunshine on a plate and rather impressive.

Cold drinks are a must and English ‘Dry’ Cider, especially Stowford Press, cuts nicely through the honey lemon dressing and enhances the flavour of the goats cheese. Sounds total nonsense doesn’t it? Try it first…it’s skill!

Print this bad boy out

Serano Ham, Goats Cheese and Peach Salad | ensalada de serrano, queso de cabra y melocotón | What is the national dish of Spain?

Of all the cured hams in the world, Serrano ham is up there with the best. You can use Parma ham, but there is actually a difference.

Course

Salad, Side Dish, Starter

Cuisine

Spanish

Keyword

Salad, Spanish Food

Prep Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

0 minutes

Servings

people

Ingredients

• 1 bag mixed salad leaves I'd go for a rocket mix, lamb lettuce is great too - even watercress or spinach
• 2 fresh peaches cut in to 8 segments each
• 5 slices Serrano ham use Parma Ham and this becomes Italian, use English honey roast ham and it becomes gross - so don't
• 125 grams goats cheese go for full fat, English and French are good
• 1 tbls honey clear
• 1 handful pine nuts roast these gently in a dry frying pan
• 1/2 fresh lemon the juice
• 1 pinch sea salt flakes
• 1 pinch ground black pepper
• 1 tbls olive oil extra virgin

Course Salad, Side Dish, Starter Cuisine Spanish Keyword Salad, Spanish Food Prep Time 15 minutes Cook Time 0 minutes Servings people Ingredients 1 bag mixed salad leaves I'd go for a rocket mix, lamb lettuce is great too - even watercress or spinach 2 fresh peaches cut in to 8 segments each 5 slices Serrano ham use Parma Ham and this becomes Italian, use English honey roast ham and it becomes gross - so don't 125 grams goats cheese go for full fat, English and French are good 1 tbls honey clear 1 handful pine nuts roast these gently in a dry frying pan 1/2 fresh lemon the juice 1 pinch sea salt flakes 1 pinch ground black pepper 1 tbls olive oil extra virgin

Instructions

1. The picture alone should show you how to make this. Put a pan on medium high heat and add the pine nuts - let them dry roast in the pan, don't let them catch too much - shake the pan frequently.
2. Whilst the Pine Nuts are doing their thing get a serving platter out and a chopping board. Slice the peaches in half, remove the stone and slice in to eight wedges. At the same time cut you goats cheese in to bite sized chunks or just rip it apart for a more Jamie Oliver style finish - it's doesn't matter.
3. If you need to, wash your salad leaves and give them a whizz in a salad spinner. Get the Serrano ham and remove it from those little plastic sheets - unless you've sliced it off the leg yourself, you sexy bitch.
4. Your nuts should be done by now. Get a jar and add the oil, honey, salt, pepper and lemon juice and shake it up and taste - adjust accordingly, usually more honey or salt.
5. On the platter add all the prepped ingredients, sprinkle over the dressing and give them a gentle toss - you want the goodies throughout. For aesthetics arrange it so you can see some of each of the ingredients - just look at the pic.

   
6. Thank you Spain