Mango and Macadamia Salad with a Creamy Dressing

Now for a fun post ...
While it is still summer and the mangoes are large, juicy and sweet while the macadamias can still be freshly sourced, is the time for salad enjoyment.  This salad is served on our table weekly over summer.

Hubby was a bit annoyed the other night as he retrieved the gas cannister from where it was hooked up to my backyard smoker for his barbecue and said "It feels a little light, how long were you smoking your chipotles for?  You must have had it on for hours!"    Followed by "I can probably only cook the lamb (butterflied and marinated) for 5 minutes then you will have to take over."   Accompanied by a disbelieving shake of his head.

So unfortunately he couldn't even warm up the barbecue before the gas in the bottle expired.

Ergo I turned on the teppan to warm up and had the lamb on the table, resting, in under 20 minutes.  I also made this super quick salad.  A lovely light fresh burst of flavours that balance the richness of the almost-barbecued lamb perfectly well.

Suffice to say it was a delightful evening dinner.

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Mango and Macadamia Salad with a Creamy Dressing

1/2 cup macadamia halves

1 mango, chopped into approx 2cm cubes

1 tomato, cut into 8 slices

1/2 large cucumber, cut into slices, peeling is optional

1/4 red onion finely diced

2 handfuls of lettuce leaves, washed and torn into chunks

Dressing:

1/3 cup thickened cream

1/4 cup virgin olive oil

1/4 cup lemon juice (I sometimes use half lemon juice/half champagne vinegar)

salt and pepper

Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl.

Warm up a small frying pan and over low heat lightly roast the macadamia halves.  Set aside to cool.

On top of a large platter, scatter the torn lettuce leaves.

Top with cucumber, tomato and onion.

Add the mango on top then pour over the dressing with long movements.

Grind some extra freshly cracked black pepper over top.

Sprinkle with macadamia nuts and serve immediately.

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If you use mangoes in savoury dishes, kindly tell me how you would serve them?
Thus, an idea shared is enjoyable for all.

Buon appetito, enjoy Merryn xx