Root issues...

My dinner on Tuesday was inspired by my visit to the British Museum as I went back in time and to my roots. I made a roasted root vegetable salad- gorgeously vibrant, earthy and tasty.

The exhibition "South Africa- the art of a nation" A journey of a 100,000 years, gives a great whistle stop tour through, the not always so pretty, history of my birth nation. We're a nation of migrants bringing with us our different flavours, cultures and colours to make up what we now call the Rainbow Nation.

I love how art not only makes the functional beautiful but displays the essence of the human heart; gives expression to our struggles and celebrates what is good and true. The exhibition uses art as a lens though which you get a taste of our rich heritage and see some of the outworking of our strong, fighting, enduring and adventurous spirit.

There remains today the challenges and tension of divide, of amongst other things; of race and privilege. I'd like to think however that the South African people are now standing together more than ever; united in our diversity, appreciating, celebrating and fighting for rather than against one another. A new generation.

My roasted root-vegetable salad was made up out of butternut squash, beetroot and sweet potato- all washed, cut and roasted with a sprinkling of seasoned sea salt. Skins on, no oil, no fuss.

So on a bed of mixed baby green leaves they went...

and then for some pan fried halloumi, again no oil needed. I prefer doing this over a light heat rather than grilling the halloumi or using a higher temperature as otherwise the cheese easily goes too rubbery.

Always a dressing!- this time pomegranate molasses, olive oil and a drizzle of honey.

A great mix of salty, earthy, sweet and lightly acidic flavours. Robust, earthy and gentle. Bit like the Rainbow Nation- a great combination!

#colourfulfood #tasteandsee #nutritiousanddelicious #simpleisbest #fabulousflavours #salad