Topic: Courgette Glut

[feet of clay]

Anyone got a recipe for courgette soup?  I've fried 'em, stuffed 'em, battered 'em and eaten them raw.  Everyone I've ever spoken to has been given them and still they keep coming.......

[john_miller]

Tried bread (you can freeze it)? Not my thing but very popular over here.

[tim]

foc - soup's great, so long as it's made with a good chicken stock!!

One of my favourite ways with courgettes is:
Ribbon them - & carrots  - with a veg peeler - steam till softened but crunchy - amalgamate with melted butter, lime juice & zest. Or use popped black mustard seed.
Another is V thin & 'chargrilled' + pepper, shallot & chive salsa. = Tim

[feet of clay]

Thanks.  I'm going to try Tim's buttery version for lunch but with lemon. (Rain pelting down and nearest potential source of limes is over a mile away)  As a veggie, I use 'Marigold' bullion in my soups.

[Jesse]

You can use courgettes as an ingredient in vegetarian lasagne. Or have you tried slicing them and freezing them for use through winter (need to par boil them first).

[tim]

foc - I was pre-empting your reply!! = Tim

[feet of clay]

Made soup for lunch.  Bought onions, carrots and peppers my courgettes and garlic.  Fried the veg in butter and added some stock, gave it a whizz and .... wow!  Amazing colour and wonderful taste.  Middle son appeared just in time to take some back to his house.  Looks like I might just have to start a brothel ...... whoops not the right word!

[Derekthefox]

My favourite recipe for courgettes is in ratatouille, and it freezes well, so a large quantity is not wasted.

[Doris_Pinks]

Courgette cake is lovely, and freezes well, got a recipe for courgette n brie soup somewhere, and courgette fritters.....in fact got loads of recipes for the darn things, luckily we love em! Let me know if you want any of the recipes for above!

[Sarah-b]

For lunch yesterday, I made pata with courgette sauce from Hugh fearnley-Whittingstall's big book (can't remember what it's called).
It was, surprisingly I thought, very very good - and used up a kilo of the darn things.

Basically slice a hefty whack of courgettes finely. "Simmer" in a few tbsps of olive oil gently untli they start to fall apart (at least 20 mins). Mash it up with your spatula. Stir in a couple of tbsps of cream and handfull of grated parmesan - heat until bubbling again. Serve with pasta - yum!

[Mrs Ava]

Cor all these recipes sound great - just wish I had a courgette glut!  We have had 3, and we have 3 yellow one swelling nicely.  Note to self, next year, do a couple more plants!

[feet of clay]

The reason I'm ovewhelmed is cos I was given 'cucumber' seeds that turned out to be 2 courgettes and 1 squash, meanwhile I planted out 3 real courgette plants as well!  Ironically, the outdoor ones are doing just as well as their cossetted greenhouse cousins.  By the time I realised what the greenhouse ones were, it was too late to start cucumbers.

[wattapain]

Sarah - that Hugh Fearnley whatsisname's recipe - well what can I say? I just tried it and Yum is not the word, Absolutely scrumtiddlyumptious.
Courgettes were never like this before. looks like i just found another kitchen standard. I have the book but have not really tried it till now. i think I will read it again - find some tomato recipes for when my glut of green tomatoes turn red!! :) :)

[feet of clay]

Going to get me some cream and parmesan - expensive way to use up the glowering green thingies but it sounds yummy.

[wattapain]

Actually I used (light) creme fraiche instead of cream - slightly better for you plus i actually prefer the taste.

[gavin]

Ooooooooooooh!  I'd love to have a courgette glut!  Haven't done this in many years - not since Egypt and Yemen 20 years ago!  So quantities? - not a chance  :)

"Enough" courgettes.  Wash 'em, and grate them - and toss in a bowl with a couple of teaspoons of salt;  let stand for 5-10 minutes, then take out handfuls of the grated courgettes, and squeeze as much of the liquid out as you can.

Heat some olive oil in a frying pan, add a chopped onion (or equivalent in shallots and/or spring onions); after a few minutes, add the grated courgettes - fry the mixture for about 10 minutes (you'll need to stir frequently).

Now put the courgette mixture in a pyrex dish.  Smooth it flat - and then make "wells" big enough to take an egg each.  Break an egg into each well, sprinkle with a little fresh ground black pepper, and some cheese (worth a good cheese - Old Gouda stands out in memory as one of the best).

Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes - medium oven; I like it whites set, yolks still soft.

Gorgeously "green" taste - better still with a generous pinch of parsley in the courgette mixture.

Eeeh - memories.  Off to market tomorrow to buy some courgettes - they don't go soft and squishy in this recipe.

All best - Gavin

[georgiesgirl]

Hi all.
A soup my family enjoys,and of which i make lots of this time of the year.Freezes well,and is good hot or cold
Cougette and Celery Soup
8oz courgettes
1oz butter
3 celery sticks trimmed and chopped
2leeks trimmed and sliced fine
1 large onion
1oz plain flour
2pt chicken stock[i use veg stock veggies in the family]
2tbs dry sherry
4fl oz double cream
salt and black pepper
Fry celery,leeks and onion in melted butter until they have softened. When onion is transparent stir in flour to make a paste.Add stock and sherry stirring until mixed.Add diced courgettes, bring to boil and simmer for 20mins.
Puree the soup and then add double cream.Omit cream if freezing soup. Season
I came across this recipe in an old Archer's cookbook.
Anne

[GardnerJ]

A nice dinner i do with courgettes is with garlic prawns and pasta it sounds weird but is lovely.
Just get a load of courgettes, garlic and prawns and saute for a bit then cook some pasts and mix together! YUMMY  ::)

[tim]

They're all over 18, of course? (the sherry!) = Tim

[Mrs Ava]

Yum Gavin.  Going to do this for my supper tomorrow!