Mutton, artichokes, tomatoes and four different types of beans

Ingredients

• 8 pieces small artichokes
• 500g fresh butter beans
• 500g fresh red bush beans
• 100g white beans, cooked in salted water
• 100g red beans, cooked in salted water
• 100g red onions, minced
• a bit fresh borrage
• 1 bunch of leeks
• 250g cocktail tomatoes
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• a little minced, fresh herbs (parsley, majoram and thyme)
• 600-800g trimmed mutton loin (or fillet of beef or porc)
• a little Balsamic vinegar
• a little olive oil
• salt and pepper

Preparation

The vinaigrette:

1. Put Balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, a little sugar and olive oil in a large bowl
2. Mix to achieve a fine vinaigrette

The artichokes:

1. (Wear dispoable-gloves to protect your hands from the acid juice.)
2. Cut off the tops and bottoms of the artichokes.
3. Remove the leaves.
4. Halve them.
5. Blanch in salted water until al dente.
6. Chill them and put them into the vinaigrette.
7. Add the prepared red onions, the garlic and the white and red beans.
8. Wash and brush the beans.
9. Remove threads if necessary.
10. Chop the bush beans to pieces of equal size.
11. Cut the butter beans to the shape of rhombus of 2 cm length each.
12. Blanch both kinds of beans separately in salted water with a bit borrage.
13. Keep them al dente.
14. Chill them and add them to the salad.
15. Cut the leek to thin rings and the cherry tomatoes to halves.
16. Add them to the salad in order to provide more colour.
17. Complete the salad with herbs according to taste and set aside.

The mutton

1. Season with salt and pepper and brown all sides in a frying pan.
2. Allow the meat to brown a little.
3. Preheat the oven to 120° C.
4. Put in the oven and keep it there for approx. 20-25 minutes

Serving suggestion

• Serve the salad for every guest on a big, decorative plate.
• Distribute the thin strips of mutton evenly around the plate.
• As a side dish I like to serve a warm ciabatta with garlic oil.
• Offer stew in warm plates, garnished with fresh chives and croutons.