This is a simple fruit salad, with the crunch of cucumber – technically a fruit despite its salad veg status – giving a surprising, non-sweet contrast to the oranges and strawberries. You can serve this to start a meal or to end it, or to refresh the palate after a meaty main course and before cheese.
Serves 4
2 oranges
½ cucumber
About 350g ripe, sweet strawberries
10–12 large mint leaves, finely shredded
Freshly ground black pepper (optional)
Slice all the peel and pith off both oranges. To do this, cut a slice off the base of each and stand the orange on a board. Then use a sharp knife to cut down through the peel and pith, slicing it away completely, in sections. Now, working over a large bowl to catch the segments and any juice, slice the segments of orange out from between the membranes. Remove any pips as you go. Squeeze out the remaining juice from the orange membranes into the bowl.
Peel the cucumber and cut it into thin slices, about 3mm thick. Hull the strawberries, then cut each into 3 or 4 slices depending on size.
Add the cucumber and strawberries to the orange segments, along with the mint, and toss all gently together. A twist of freshly ground black pepper is an excellent, unexpected final tweak. Arrange the salad on a large serving platter or individual plates and serve.
PLUS ONE The last of the late strawberries in August sometimes overlap with the first Discovery apples in my garden. One or two of these, peeled, cored and sliced, makes a great addition to this gorgeous fresh salad.