Watercress , Smoked Mackerel and Celeriac Salad

I took a little trip around Nottingham Market this weekend, under orders to buy a “happy” chicken for Sunday Lunch.

All of the vegetable stalls had large bunches of British Watercress which for me is a sure sign, alongside the appearance of purple sprouting broccoli ,that Spring is just around the corner and the age of the root vegetables is coming to a close.

I have been lucky enough to pick wild watercress but wary of using it raw in salads due to the prevalence of liver flukes . Especially since I had a slight panic last week that I had poisoned myself and was going into labour. it was indigestion but I am trying to be a little more sensible with how I eat for the next few months anyway. To the mounds of watercress I added chopped toasted bread , a smoked mackerel fillet, some celeriac remoulade (leftover from steak-night on Friday) and a dressing of olive oil , honey , wholegrain mustard and white vinegar.

In a few months this salad can include some cooked new potatoes but it was delicious enough to have me running my finger round the bowl to eat every last scrap.