What Should I Make To Accompany The Aromatic Lamb Shank Stew?

Our answer

Nigella's Aromatic Lamb Shank Stew (from Nigella Bites and on the Nigella website) is a good dish for a large group as it can be made in advance and, like all stews, it improves with reheating. This type of dish is best with a plain, starchy accompaniment that will soak up the spiced sauce.

Plain boiled basmati rice is a possible accompaniment. However for large numbers couscous would be an easier alternative, particularly the type of couscous that only needs to be soaked in hot water from a just-boiled kettle. Nigella Bites has a recipe on p190 for cous cous that has flaked (sliced) almonds and chopped pistachios stirred through. This is made with couscous that needs to be steamed, but you could use the quick-cooking kind instead (prepare the cous cous following the instructions on the packet, adding the cardamom with the water). Otherwise the Standby Starch recipe on p211 of Kitchen would be a good couscous dish to try.

A green salad would also be a welcome accompaniment, to add some colour and freshness.