Courgette Overload.

ALIBOBSY

Our fav side dish at the mo is thin slices of courgette-using a peeler (although its good with chopped as well), done in a hot pan with olive oil and plenty of garlic and whatever herbs you fancy-I am loving lemon basil this year, seems to grow like a weed and has an amazing lemon scent and flavour. I sometimes throw a few fresh peas/broad beans/sliced mange tout/sliced French beans/sliced runner beans in. But I have never found anything not improved by garlic lol-tho I realise its not some peoples cup of tea.

Definitely going to try the cake recipe. I grew some of the round courgettes and want to try stuffing them and baking. They seem to swell up so quickly and seem to go from golf ball size to large tennis ball size in a matter of days and are full of a lot more flesh than the thin type. Maybe its me but we reckon they have a slightly strongly flavour as well.

I think someone mentioned the yellow ones, aren't they supposed to look good, but not have much flavour? That's why we have never bothered with them.

Ali x

RuthnJasper

My dad swears that he hates courgettes - but he asked for second helpings of my soup (recipe posted earlier), as I hadn't told him what was in it, hehe.

Courgette can be very bland though - I always think the trick is in the seasoning - or oven-roasting (or in an oven-baked dish like Lasagne) brings out the best in them.

Apparently the yellow flowers are nice dipped in light batter and fried, but I've not tried that myself.

Leif

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

I think someone mentioned the yellow ones, aren't they supposed to look good, but not have much flavour?

I grew yellow ones last year. I did not have many as the weather was so poor, and most rotted from the end, but the ones I had were fine, no different from green. I can't say courgettes have much flavour. Many years ago I grew patty pan and they were quite nice.

cyclonebri1

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

I think someone mentioned the yellow ones, aren't they supposed to look good, but not have much flavour? That's why we have never bothered with them.

Ali x

Well that was me for 1, the essence of what I said was that they look great, but disappoint in taste, as per crocodile dundee, "needs garlic",

But I can't comment on the difference between green and yellow ones as for the above reasons I have only ever grown the yellow varieties, and even then only under greenhouse conditions.

salthepal

I cooked a nice pasta recipe a couple of nights ago. Fry some bacon bits til crispy, add red onion and sliced lengthwise courgettes in flat pieces to mirror the tagliatelle and cook until turning golden brown, add thyme and lots of freshly ground black pepper. When its all a bit mushy add a pot of crème fraiche and a little of the tagliatelle or other pasta water to make the consistency right. Add cooked pasta to this mixture, season with salt and add parmesan cheese to taste.

Funky_Bold_Ribena

http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/happiness-soup-207

cod3

I have 10 of these monster plants in my back garden and today they bullied me into going back onto Slimming World Until further notice I will mainly be eating...

Ratatouille - made a big pot today. It can be frozen in portions and made into pasta sauce, chili, curry or cajun stew once defrosted. Serve with pasta, rice, baked potatoes or homemade spicy wedges for a variety of meals.

Sweet potato and black bean chilli (tastes a lot nicer than it sounds and uses up a couple of courgettes. Can be frozen too)
http://greenlitebites.com/2011/10/10/sweet-potato-black-bean-chili/

Roast veg - roast any veg you like in frylight or a little olive oil - courgettes, peppers, butternut squash, red onions or shallots, garlic, rosemary, thyme and black pepper, throw in some cherry tomatoes for the last 10 minutes. Serve as a side dish or put on top of noodles with some chili sauce. Maybe add some cashew.

cyclonebri1

cod3 wrote: »

I have 10 of these monster plants in my back garden and today they bullied me into going back onto Slimming World Until further notice I will mainly be eating...

Ratatouille - made a big pot today. It can be frozen in portions and made into pasta sauce, chili, curry or cajun stew once defrosted. Serve with pasta, rice, baked potatoes or homemade spicy wedges for a variety of meals.

Sweet potato and black bean chilli (tastes a lot nicer than it sounds and uses up a couple of courgettes. Can be frozen too)
http://greenlitebites.com/2011/10/10/sweet-potato-black-bean-chili/

Roast veg - roast any veg you like in frylight or a little olive oil - courgettes, peppers, butternut squash, red onions or shallots, garlic, rosemary, thyme and black pepper, throw in some cherry tomatoes for the last 10 minutes. Serve as a side dish or put on top of noodles with some chili sauce. Maybe add some cashew.

Have you tried growing sweet potatoes?, if so what's the secret, mine failed.

Sorry for thread drift but I think it just about ok:o

cod3

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Have you tried growing sweet potatoes?, if so what's the secret, mine failed.

Sorry for thread drift but I think it just about ok:o

Haven't tried growing sweet potatoes. My normal spuds are doing well though (planted a bag of roosters that had gone leggy in the cupboard) This year I just have courgettes, spuds, cucumbers, apples and various berries.

Hopefully someone with sweet potato success will be along soon

cod3

Hi again

I used two big courgettes today :T in this delicious soup....

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1758636/courgette-pea-and-pesto-soup

Instead of bought pesto, I used extra garlic, fresh basil and a handful of pinenuts to make it lower calorie and vegan. Whizzed it with the stick blender at the end so the beans have gone all creamy. Very nice.