This Fennel and Wild Garlic Salad with Mustard Dressing makes the most delightful side dish and uses the vibrant flavours of wild garlic.
I’ve been scanning the hedges for the past week or two, ever since the rain stopped (HOORAH!) and the sun started shining (HOOORRAAAHHHH!) looking out for wild garlic.
These little blooms are the very first.
A quick note: in the photos you’ll see I’ve used ‘Three Cornered Leek’ in place of the traditional Wild Garlic (or Ramsons).
They both grow in my local hedges, but often the three cornered leek is the first to flower every Spring.
Both can be used interchangeably, all parts of both plants can be consumed either cooked or raw.
And they taste very similar.
Wild Garlic Salad
I’ve been thinking that the mild garlic flavour would sit rather nicely alongside the mild aniseedy taste of raw fennel, and happily it really does.
The red cabbage and carrot?
Purely to add colour, vitamins and empty out the salad drawer before my weekly shop.
Jonny stuffed his cheese sandwich full of the wild garlic salad (minus the dressing) at lunch time as I looked on green with envy.
I don’t miss dairy very often, but I have been getting some serious cravings for a decent strong cheddar of late.
Sigh.
Mustard Salad Dressing
I served my crunchy Spring salad with a hot mustard and olive oil dressing.
It punches in another layer of flavour to this beautiful salad.
- 1/2 fennel bulb shredded finely
- 1/4 red cabbage shredded finely
- 1 large carrot shredded finely
- 1 handful wild garlic leaves and flowers
- 1 teaspoon wholegrain mustard
- 4 tablespoons oil
- 1/2 lemon juice
- Shredded all the veggies and toss in a salad bowl.
- Mix the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl or jug before lavishing on the veggies.
simone says
I love The flowers of garlic and I want to have them in my garden too! I know it’s not wild but I should be able to grow some here as well…. Great salad combo!
Jane Sarchet says
Thanks Simone, you want me to sneak you some bulbs…? ;)
Janie x
Lizzy (Good Things) says
Oh how absolutely lovely, Janie!
Jane Sarchet says
Thanks Lizzy!
Janie x
Julie's Family Kitchen says
A very beautiful looking salad.
Jane Sarchet says
Thank you Julie, it was pretty darn tasty too!
Janie x
Karen says
What a LOVELY “veggie” (!!!!!!!) salad and dressing Janie! :-) Cornwall is ahead of me in France, no flowers on mine yet!
Jane Sarchet says
Haha, I’m going to have to go and sacrifice a duck or something aren’t I??! enjoy the first blooms when you find them, they always taste the best :)
Janie x
Karen says
What a FABULOUS recipe – thanks for linking up to Tea Time Treats for June! Karen
Sylvia says
Beautiful salad, full of colours! Love your background board Janie x
Jane Sarchet says
Thanks Sylia! The background is actually my desk, whihc Jonny made out of old barn doors! :)
Janie x
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry says
I am the same as you – just looking and waiting till the wild garlic comes out. I love the colours in this.
Jane Sarchet says
Thanks petal!
Janie x
Ren Behan says
Love your blog Jane, it always makes me smile. Think it’s your lovely name and banner and of course, tasty recipe. Thanks for the heads up on wild garlic, I have lots of places to hunt locally and I adore the pretty little flowers. Great recipe x
Jane Sarchet says
Thank you so much Ren, you’ve given me a great big smile :)
I do hope you find some wild garlic in your area. There are actually 3 different types that I know of, this one which is Tri-Cornered Leek (and happily the most rampant where I live), Ramsons and Garlic Mustard. Jonny (who is a bit of a plant expert just told me there are even more than that, but these are the only ones I’ve seen)
Janie x
Nayna Kanabar says
Thisis such a pretty salad. I love the flavours too.
Jane Sarchet says
Thank you Nayna!
Janie x
Fiona Maclean says
More wild garlic! This looks lovely – I don’t know where to find wild garlic but I shall definitely be searching soon!
Jane Sarchet says
Yep, move over pancakes it’s wild garlic time :)
Janie x
Choclette says
Oh, I haven’t seen any flowers out yet, must look. Haven’t even picked any wild garlic leaves either. Suspect it’s milder your way – we are high up and close to the moors.
Jane Sarchet says
Does that make a difference? We shall have to have a taste challenge!
Janie x
Jacqueline Meldrum says
What a pretty salad, My fav dressing is similar, but I like balsamic instead of lemon.
Jane Sarchet says
Ooh yummy, balsamic is one of those gorgeous flavours that makes everything taste better :)
Janie x
Louisa Foti says
One beautiful salad Janie. Must find where the wild garlic grows in my new Herefordshire surroundings. Stunning pics.
Jane Sarchet says
Thanks Louisa, if you can’t find any I am happy to send you up some bulbs to bury in a hedge ;)
Janie x
Morgan @ Peaches, Please! says
I love when people forage for veg. Fennel ferns and chanterelle mushrooms are the big foraging items around here!
Jane Sarchet says
Yum, that’s a fine pairing of forageable (made up word?) goodies! I only pick one wild mushroom as I don’t trust myself to get the ID right with others.
Janie x
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
I am adding this to my list of salads to try :)
Jane Sarchet says
Hope you enjoy it Dannii :)
Janie x
Rachel says
Wow, you had wild garlic flowers in mid March? Up here in the Welsh mountains, they (Ramsons) aren’t flowering yet, though I’ve been picking the leaves for several weeks.
Jane Sarchet says
Yeah, one of the benefits of living in Cornwall! We’ve had the leaves since last year, but it’s those little white flowers I love the most :)
Janie x
Nayna Kanabar (@citrusspiceuk) says
I like the addition of wild garlic it has such a delicate taste.Colorful and pretty salad.