Black rice lamb stack or vegan stack

This black rice lamb stack or vegan stack is easy to make, and looks impressive for dinner parties. It is versatile and can be used to please both vegetarian and meat eaters in the family!

Black rice is more nutritious than white rice. It contains the flavonoid anthocyanin, is full of antioxidants (for example vitamin E which is useful for eye, skin and immune health), and is also a good source of iron.

Black rice should be soaked before use to reduce the cooking time.

Ingredients

• Black rice

• 4 tomatoes

• 1 small aubergine

• 1 small courgette

• OPTIONAL - Leftover cooked lamb shoulder, or meat of your choice.

• Small handful of parsley

• Small handful of mint

• Lemon Juice

• Olive oil

• Salt and pepper

• 1/2 teaspoon Smoked paprika

• 1/2 teaspoon Cumin

• Balsamic vinegar

• Basil blooms and cress leaves for optional garnish

Directions

1. Soak your black rice for at least an hour.

2. Make your herby sauce for the side drizzle: Put the parsley and mint in a food processor, with 2 tablespoons olive oil and juice of half a lemon and whizz together.

3. Taste for seasoning, and add salt according to taste

4. Cook the black rice in water for half an hour.

5. Pre-heat the oven to 190ºC

6. Chop the aubergine and courgette into slices and roast in the oven with two tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika and half a teaspoon cumin for 25 mins

7. Cut the tomato into slices, season with salt and pepper, drizzle with a little olive oil and roast in the oven for 20 mins

8. Make your stack using a chef ring to make the circular shape.

9. Place the cooked black rice on the base.

10. For the next layer use tomatoes

11. Then a layer of aubergine

12. Another layer of tomato

13. A layer of courgette, then depending whether or not you are making this into a vegan dish you can add a layer of cooked lamb (or grass fed meat of your choice) and top with parsley. (vegans could try adding beans for a protein source.)

14. Carefully remove the chef ring, and your food should be nicely presented in a circular shape

15. Dress the plate with the herby sauce you made earlier, and drizzle good quality balsamic vinegar

16. Garnish with basil blooms and cress.