Courgette Cooking ?

[Thunderbird+]

Hi Folks,
Whats the best and simlest way to cook these babies. Thanks...

[maximo]

I usually slice them, not too thinly or they can turn to goo, and cook them in olive oil. Simple! I don't peel them, I find them much nicer that way! Also, I always try to buy the smallest ones, I find them much tastier. You can also add tomato sauce, onions, peppers, mushrooms....yummy!

[Xanthippe]

This site has a number of ways to cook Courgettes(Zucchini). I hope it helps.

http://homecooking.about.com/library/archive/b lv61.htm#recipes

[nickmo]

Ideas here should keep you happy.

I'm doing an Eight Ball variety courgette tonight - fry courgette flesh with onions herbs & paprika, return to scooped out shell and add diced emmental and feta and sun dried toms. Bake 20 mins.

Easiest is to just slice and fry, but there are 1100 options on the link.

[trevoraston]

i like to fry them with chopped onion and sliced mushrooms. Goes well with fried pork snitchell (not spelled correctly i know) and boiled rice.

YUM YUM.

cho

trev

[tictactoe]

Hi Tbird+

Another simple one:

Sliced, seasoned and sauted in oil with slivered almonds, until golden brown - delicious!


n00dles xXx

[Clanad]

We do this one often, T-bird:
4 to 6 small zucchini squash, about 1 1/2 pounds
1 medium sweet onion
2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
1 teaspoon dried leaf basil
dash Cajun seasoning, optional
1 cup chicken broth
juice of 1 lemon, about 2 to 3 tablespoons
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes with juice
salt and pepper, to taste
To Prepare::
Cut zucchini into sticks or slices. Quarter and slice the onion. Combine the prepared zucchini and onion, garlic, basil, Cajun seasoning, chicken broth, and lemon juice in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil; lower heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes, or until just tender. Add tomatoes and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper, as desired.
Serves 4 to 6.

Quick and easy...

We also do Zucchini bread... takes a little effort but quite good. We make 4 or 5 at a time and freeze them for a winter's reminder of summer's bounty...
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 1/4 cups white sugar
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups grated zucchini
1 cup chopped walnuts
Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.
Good eating!

[Thunderbird+]

Wowee! Thank you all for those 4 star answers!
I cant wait to get hungry again.

[lia*]

Here are some simple ways to use courgette

Courgette Tart

Sweat some onion and a small clove of garlic in oil, then tip in the chopped courgettes and the peppers (red or yellow) thinly sliced.

Season with salt and pepper, cover and let sweat for about 10 min.

Meanwhile roll out the puff or the shortcrust pastry (I use shortcrust because I like it more, but you have the choice, just watch baking time!), brush lightly with some beaten egg white and then pour in the veg mixture.

Bake in a hot (180C) oven for about 25 minutes (it may be 20 for puff though) til well golden brown.
***********************************************
Or you could make courgette pasta.

Just slice courgettes thinly and sautee them in a non stick frying pan with olive oil and chopped spring onions for about 10 min.

Meanwhile cook the pasta (farfalle or penne) according to the packet instructions and drain well.

Tip the pasta in the frying pan, season with salt, pepper and fresh parsley and stir fry for another couple of minutes.
Hope this helps!

[lia*]

Courgettet Bread

Makes a tasty, moist bread that is great with soup etc. The vitamin C is a catalyst for the rising action of the yeast; I have no idea how it works, it just does.

� packet compressed yeast
50 mg vitamin c tablet (crushed)
1 T brown sugar
200 mLs cold water
100 mLs boiling water
5 c white flour
3 t salt
300 g grated courgette (about 2 � medium courgette)
� c oil
� t ground chili
1 t paprika
1 t dried oregano or parsley (or 4 t fresh chopped herb)
1 t ground black pepper


Turn oven on to 50�c and place an ovenproof bowl of water inside.

Mix cold and boiling water in a measuring jug to make 300 mLs lukewarm water. Crumble in compressed yeast and add brown sugar. Stir gently until sugar and yeast dissolve. Set aside.

In a large bowl mix grated courgette with oil, add dry ingredients then stir in the yeast mix. Turn the dough out onto a floured board, flouring also the dough and your hands. Knead for about 15 minutes, using flour as needed to keep the dough from sticking.

Place dough in greased bowl, cover with tea towel and place in oven with bowl of water at 50�c for about � hour, when the loaf should have doubled in bulk.

Remove and knead again for a further 15 minutes. Place in greased loaf dish (or whatever you want to bake it in) and glaze with oil, add anything you want to the top such as sunflower or pumpkin seeds, chopped pecans, pine nuts or hazelnuts. Cover the dish with a tea towel and return to oven with bowl of water at 50�c to rise for another � hour.

When risen, remove water and tea towel, turn oven heat to 175�c and bake for a further 55 minutes. Remove from oven, turn out and cool.


Potential variations:
� Potato and rosemary bread: replace grated courgette with grated potato and oregano/parsley

[lia*]

cont. from above

Potential variations:
� Potato and rosemary bread: replace grated courgette with grated potato and oregano/parsley with dried or fresh rosemary.
� Carrot and sunflower bread: replace grated courgette with 200g grated carrot and 100g of sunflower seeds.
� courgette and hazelnut bread: decrease zucchini to 200g and add 100g chopped hazelnuts.

[WendyS]

If they're less than three inches long, I like to eat them raw, finely sliced in a tomato & red onion salad with a vinaigrette dressing.
Slightly bigger ones we slice lengthways and cook on the griddle, just brushed with olive oil.

[luckyeight]

Simplest ways are either: eat raw!
pan fry or steam.

[Thunderbird+]

Thanks again for some great answers!
Raw, You know I never even thought of that, I must give it a try!
I can see now why everyone seems to be growing them.

[Clanad]

Forgive me if I'm repeating myself, but, here in small town western U.S., August is the only month one has to lock their car... if you don't, the neighbors fill it up with zucchini...

[sholmes]

The easiest way with courgettes is to grate one into a microwaveable bowl or dish add tsp lemon juice and cover then microwave for one minute. Add salt & pepper
Enough for 1-2 persons

[sholmes]

OR-
I fry an onion with chopped garlic clove, add slices of red pepper, then courgette slices. Add 1 tsp. dried basil and season. Lastly add chopped tinned tomatoes (fresh if you have plenty. Cook to liking.