The Corridor Table

Ingredients

• 2 aubergines
• 2 courgettes
• 700 g chicken breast
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp smoked paprika powder
• 1 can black beans (400 g, drained)
• 1 red onion
• 200 g cherry tomatoes
• 1 lime
• 1 bunch coriander
• salt and pepper to taste

Method

1. Slice the aubergines and courgettes lengthwise into long, thin strips.
2. Brush with olive oil and grill in a grill pan until soft and striped.
3. Cut the chicken breast into cubes, season with paprika, salt, and pepper, and fry in a pan until golden and cooked through.
4. Rinse the black beans and mix with chopped red onion, halved cherry tomatoes, lime juice, chopped coriander, salt, and pepper.
5. On each plate, lay out a winding path of grilled aubergine and courgette to resemble a corridor.
6. Arrange the chicken cubes in a neat line along the 'corridor', like diplomats in conversation.
7. Spoon the bean salad along the sides of the corridor, like onlookers.

Serving notes

• Serve formally: no loose garnish, everything aligned with the corridor.
• Drizzle extra lime juice over the salad for freshness if desired.