I had this beauty in a piazza, in Rome, in the sunshine. It was the best salad I’d ever had.

I can’t pick one bit that makes this salad good – it feels like it shouldn’t work with nearly every ingredient having strong powerful flavours, but it just does. The orange plays off the stilton which sparks the walnut which hugs the pears. Delicious.

Since Rome, I’ve made this salad more times than I can remember, it’s my absolute favourite. If you’re unsure about the cheese, put a little less into your bowl, or swap out for a lighter gorgonzola. To lower the fructose, use slightly less pear and up the spinach.

Serves 4

• 2 large oranges
• 4 pears
• 250g spinach
• 100g stilton
• 100g walnuts
• 50g cherry tomatoes

Peel the oranges, and chop the segments into 1cm slices.

Slice and core the pears into quarters, and chop into 1cm wide pieces.

Wash your spinach, squeeze out the water, and chop roughly.

Using a bag and a rolling pin or heavy spoon, break the walnuts into small pieces.

Cut the tomatoes into quarters.

In a large bowl, mix the spinach, pear, orange, tomatoes and walnuts together. Toss until mixed well.

Crumble the stilton over and mix again.

Serve, eat, and close your eyes and dream of Rome.