Warm Winter Salad of Pumpkin, Chorizo, Fennel and Blue Cheese

Dressing: Place the ingredients in a bowl, season and whisk together.

Pumpkin: Put the panko crumbs, lemon zest and herbs in a food processor and process until well combined. Tip into a shallow dish and season. Put the chickpea flour and the eggs in separate dishes and season.

Peel the pumpkin, cut in half and remove the seeds, then cut into 1 cm thick slices. Coat the pumpkin first in the flour, shaking off the excess, then dip in the egg and then the breadcrumbs, pressing them on so they are well coated.

Heat 3 tablespoons of oil and a small knob of butter in a sauté pan over a medium heat and cook the pumpkin for 3-4 minutes each side until tender. Drain on kitchen towels. Add the chorizo to the same pan, cook for 2 minutes then drain on kitchen towels.

To assemble: Thinly slice the chorizo on the diagonal and shave the fennel, reserving any fronds. Toss the fennel and walnuts with enough dressing to lightly coat. Spoon half the fennel and walnut mix onto a serving platter. Arrange the warm pumpkin on top and spoon over the remaining fennel salad. Scatter with slices of chorizo, pieces of blue cheese and the reserved fennel fronds and drizzle with the remaining dressing. Grind over some pepper and serve immediately. 

Panko crumbs: Flakey Japanese dried bread crumbs that create a crunchy crust. Available from Asian stores and good supermarkets.