Karen’s table

This salad (see recipe opposite)is such good value – you can really just do the beans or the carrots. It uses tiny cannellini beans, which are the most accessible beans – you don’t have to make a big beany commitment. Roast the carrots as single file as you can, with their crusty spice rub. We serve it with lamb, but it’s also great with pork and fish.

I don’t like to choose between my children, but this child needs talking about! It’s a battered, fried brinjal baton, layered with a slightly sticky Asian sauce, to make this amazeballs tower. It’s inspired by Dan Hong’s , but I’ve made it more accessible.