I have just tried out Jamie Oliver's courgette and mint salad which is fab, the only thing is I didn't chargrill the courgettes, but I did want to share this with you. ;D ;D
You will need 4 courgettes (or 2 large ones)
1 red chillie (deseeded)
half a garlic
Olive oil
Lemon juice
Handful of mint
Slice 4 courgettes lengthways as thin as you can (use a mandolin if you have one). Grill on a red-hot griddle pan, or on the barbecue, until lightly charred on each side. Scatter the slices over a large plate, making sure you don't sit them on top of each other otherwise they'll steam and go a bit limp, and there's nothing worse than limp courgettes, I can tell you. While they're still warmish, sprinkle them with a little sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Deseed a red chilli and chop finely. Finely chop ½ a clove of garlic and sprinkle the chilli and garlic evenly from a height over the courgettes. (Add to your own taste, but just remember that when the chilli and garlic mix with the olive oil and lemon juice the heat and flavours are lessened.)
Tear over a handful of fresh mint and drizzle with good extra virgin olive oil and a squeeze of lemon. I've even been known to throw in some blanched broad beans or raw peas if I can get any. This salad is always a real treat.
sounds great! I love these simple summer dishes.
Sophie Grigson does lots like this - might be worth you checking some of her stuff out, she does a great dish with carrots, sliced and then lightly fried in oil, to take a bit of colour and cook through (slightly) and then you squeeze some lemon over them and add some chopped mint. Great for carrot thinnings (when you've been a bit neglectful!) ;)
Sophie is one chef I really love, I have a couple of her books and her mother was brilliant too. The Carrot dish sounds very similar to a italian salad dish I came across a couple of years back where you crush garlic and smear around the bowl, grate carrots, chop mint and add olive oil and lemon juice, but I am liking the the idea of lightly frying the carrots.
Carrot thinnings!! I am guilty of that and beetroot thinnings tooo ;D
oooo the Italian recipe sounds yumcious too :)
Frying the carrots makes them a bit sweeter / releases sugar :)
And this post has reminded me of a recipe by Nigella Lawson where you grill thin slices of courgettes. And in a seperate bowl add chopped garlic, chopped chilli, and chopped mint with some feta cheese and ground black pepper. Then wrap a slice of courgette around some feta mix - a great starter :)
Oooh, some friends made this for us the other day & it was totally scrummy. Forgot to ask for the recipe so thanks for saving me harassing them!
All I need know is for the courgettes to get a move on. I've got mint by the bucketload ::)
Quote from: 1066 on July 06, 2011, 10:28:09
oooo the Italian recipe sounds yumcious too :)
Frying the carrots makes them a bit sweeter / releases sugar :)
And this post has reminded me of a recipe by Nigella Lawson where you grill thin slices of courgettes. And in a seperate bowl add chopped garlic, chopped chilli, and chopped mint with some feta cheese and ground black pepper. Then wrap a slice of courgette around some feta mix - a great starter :)
Like the sound of the feta, maybe put some toasted pinenuts in too ;D
Yes mint and courgettes do go well.
Another recipe I found was to grate the courgettes and mix with SR flour. (the water int the courgettes will abosorb the flour when left for an hour or so) the mix has to be rather stiff. You can add more flour if need.
then treat like onion barjees.
Deep fry in golf ball lumps at 180 degrees in a deep fat fryer. then when golden, drain and serve with a dip into a mix of greek yoghurt and mint.
Seasoning needed of course but a bit of chilli and onion would certainly liven the mix up.
Can be made in advance and reheated for 10 mins in an oven at it's highest setting.
yes to fritters / bahjees :)
And another yes to no need to add water to the flour. The amount of water in courgettes is astounding! I've done them shallow fried, and even in the oven, with a teeny amount of oil on the baking tray. Good if you are trying to cut back on fats, but best fried IMHO :-X
Going to try this tomorrow -
Having ours with salad tonight.Prepared this morning. Ribboned and marinated in lemon honey and ginger
mmmm Shirl that sounds yummy ;)
courgette & mint salad hmmmmm lush ;)