Server Stack Salad
Based on:
TypeSide dish
Serves4 people
DateNovember 13, 2026
Layered vegetables as server racks: sharp, tangy and clearly under pressure.
A stack of spicy marinated aubergine and zucchini slices, neatly layered like a server rack. The sharp dressing and contrasting flavors reflect the tension and pressure of the outage. The towers are instantly recognizable, referencing Microsoft’s overloaded servers.
Ingredients
- 2 aubergines
- 2 zucchinis
- 2 red onions
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lemon (juice and zest)
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 red chili
- 1 tsp honey
- salt and black pepper
- 1 handful fresh parsley
Method
- Slice the aubergines and zucchinis lengthwise into 1 cm thick slices.
- Cut the red onions into thin rings.
- Grill the aubergine and zucchini slices in a grill pan with 2 tbsp olive oil until nicely charred and soft.
- Place the grilled slices on kitchen paper and sprinkle with salt.
- Make a dressing from the remaining olive oil, lemon juice and zest, red wine vinegar, finely chopped red chili, honey, salt, and pepper.
- Drizzle the grilled vegetables and onions with the dressing. Let sit for 10 minutes.
- On each plate, stack alternating slices of aubergine, zucchini, and red onion into a tall tower (server stack).
- Garnish with roughly chopped parsley for a 'blinking light' effect.
Serving notes
- Serve on a rectangular plate for the server rack effect.
- Give everyone their own small tower, so the outage stack is clearly visible.