Chicken, fennel and rocket salad with carrot mash.

In Italy fennel is a really popular ingredient which isn't often used in England. My housemates have used it a lot in their cooking but before now I had never bought it. I decided to, and i'm glad I have

because i've seen you can do loads with it. raw, grilled, roasted, gratin.... 

So, here's a quick and easy dinner that's super healthy and gluten free.

Ingredients:

(Serves 1)

- 2/3 carrots

- 1/2 leek

- 1 chicken breast

- knob of butter

- tablespoon of cream cheese

- rocket

- fennel (about 1/4 of a bulb)

- olive oil

- lemon juice

- salt/pepper

First of all, cut the carrots into pieces (about a cm thick) and put in a pan of hot water and leave to boil. 

Heat some olive oil in a frying pan and add the chicken. Once it has started to cook, add the leek (chopped up) to the same pan.

Slice the fennel bulb (only use the white bit) as finely as possible and mix in a bowl with the rocket. Add about a teaspoon of olive oil, salt and a squeeze of lemon juice. Taste and add more or less of whatever you think it needs.

Once the carrots are soft, drain them and mash with a masher/fork. Add the butter, cream cheese, salt, pepper and mix. 

When the chicken is cooked through and the leeks are soft, you can put everything on your place and tuck in.

Buon Appetito! :)