Sour Waste Stack

Ingredients

• 2 red onions
• 2 carrots
• 1 courgette
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 yellow bell pepper
• 100 g pickles
• 100 g pearl onions
• 1 lemon
• 2 cloves garlic
• 3 tbsp white wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp black peppercorns
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp smoked paprika powder

Method

1. Cut the carrots into diagonal, thick slices about 1 cm thick.
2. Cut the courgette into thick half-moons.
3. Slice the bell peppers into thick strips.
4. Cut the red onions into thick rings.
5. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Blanch the carrots for 2 minutes, courgette for 1 minute. Drain and cool.
6. In a large bowl, mix: white wine vinegar, sugar, salt, black peppercorns, juice of 1 lemon, smoked paprika powder, and pressed garlic.
7. Add all vegetables, pickles, and pearl onions to the marinade. Mix well and let sit for at least 30 minutes.
8. Heat olive oil in a grill pan. Briefly grill the onion rings and pepper strips until charred.
9. On a large black plate, stack the vegetables in uneven, diagonal layers to form a messy waste heap. Ensure all colors and shapes are visible.
10. Drizzle some marinade over and serve immediately.

Serving notes

• Serve on a black or dark plate for maximum contrast.
• Keep the stack deliberately messy: the messier, the better the reference.
• Optionally garnish with an extra pinch of smoked paprika powder for 'smoke'.