"Wales - Japan - Peru" or "The perfect herb dressing"

Summer has arrived in Wales and it's another gloriously sunny day here today!  The dog is lazing in the shade and just looking out into the garden with the washing drying on the line makes me feel happy and grateful.

With it being so hot, I've been craving salads and lighter meals.  I used to love having sushi for a summery lunch at my old job and one particular place had this amazing sauce that came with one of their meals.  It was a herb dressing, mainly with coriander (cilantro) and utterly delicious.  I've been trying to find a recipe for it for ages (they obviously don't disclose theirs) and was surprised to find one not from Japan but Peru.  Very intriguing! 

Anyway, I made a batch and am already addicted to it :-)  It's super easy to make and tastes like the best thing ever (if you like coriander, that is) and very similar to that from the sushi place.  Drizzled on my salad today, it was amazing and it would go equally well with grilled meat or fish or small new potatoes or avocado or...I can imagine it with the salmon burgers I wrote about the other day.  In fact, I am salivating at the thought already, so that will be on the menu later in the week.  Food bliss!

Coriander herb dressing/sauce

1 large bunch of coriander/cilantro (about 50 grams), stalks included
a large handful of lettuce or fresh spinach leaves
1 large clove of garlic
1/2 - 1 green chilli, deseeded ( amount depends on how spicy you'd like it...start off with a little and add as required)
2 tsps olive oil
lime juice (approx. half a lime)
1 spring onion
1 - 2 tsp mayonnaise (or replace with Greek yoghurt)
salt to season

Method:
Put all the ingredients into a food processor/blender and whizz up until all combined - if a little thick, just add a splash of water.  Pour into a small bowl and chill for 20 minutes before serving. 

This should make around 100ml of sauce.


(Recipe adapted from "Viva Vegan")