Lettuce salad

It is essential for every good cook to have a solid lettuce salad up their sleeve, a good in-between course to cleanse the palate and lighten the spirits. This one should do the trick; it also makes for a good starter.

I am not very fond of sun-dried tomatoes, particularly not for salads – they are harsh, both in flavour and texture – but I love semi-dried tomatoes. You can make them yourself (see Castelluccio lentils with tomatoes and gorgonzola)