Courgette overload

[JudyBlumeForever]

A few months ago there was a courgette shortage so I planted a seed in my garden. It must have been a mutant super seed as a) it survived my gardening and b) it's producing copious amounts of courgettes averaging 2 a day. I am now sick of them, my neighbours are politely declining more than one or two a week, and it feels wrong binning them

What is your favourite courgette recipe? Are they freezable? How can we eat kilos of courgettes a week and not get bored of them?

Thanks for the recipe inspiration. Will crack on with these

Make a big pasta sauce.
One of my favourites is roasted pepper, courgette & garlic. Whizz up with a tin of tomatoes and whatever seasoning you fancy.
Get sausage meat and fry it off in a pan until cooked, add your sauce & stir through, then add cooked spaghetti. Sprinkle cheese and you are good to go.

allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/12157/briam--greek-potato-and-courgette-bake-.aspx

Is really lovely and looks after itself. Awash with olive oil so must be good for you.

There was some lovely recipes for courgettes on the allotment thread on the gardening topic.

Courgette fritters and courgette bhajis fromplottoplate.wordpress.com/2015/08/17/courgette-bhajis/

Courgetter flowers stuffed with goats cheese are lovely - or this www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/deep-fried_courgette_78312

Pick them small and put raw in salads.

Sauté on a reasonably hig heat, in plenty of olive oil, with chopped garlic and red chilli till they really reduce down (you might need to do this in batches). Serve with pasta and lots of black pepper.

Alternatively, I have them as a side quite a lot, just bung in a large frying pan with olive oil, salt and pepper, lid on, and let them semi-fry/steam for half an hour, you could add some leek as well if you like. Even fusspot DD likes it!

Make courgette crisps! Slice them really thinly (use a cheese grater or mandoline), chuck them in a freezer bag with a drizzle of oil, salt and pepper/spices. Shake to ensure even coverage. Arrange on a plate, so they don't overlap and microwave for 8-10 minutes, turning halfway and checking near the end so they don't burn. Eat and enjoy!

Pizza this really works. Salting courgettes takes out the water and they are then brilliant on pizza or focaccia.

Chop into triangular chunks, fry on high heat until a bit browned on two sides add egg to make omelette plus loads of herbs. Don't bother with a souffle unless you are an octogenarian with chewing problems.

courgette strips with lemon and garlic

Slice courgettes into strips with a potato peeler. Olive oil in a pan. Chuck in minced garlic and zest of one lemon. Fry up courgette strips in garlicky lemony oil for minimum amount of time so they still have a bit of crunch. Put in bowl and squeeze some lemon over them. So fresh and tasty.

There's a French savoury "cake" recipe in the Mumsnet Cookery book called "Golden Wonder". It contains eggs, flour, grated courgettes, cheese, onion and bacon. You just whisk it all up together (without pre-caramelisation) believe it or not, and bung it in the oven and cook for 50 mins or so. Good hot with a salad, or cold the next day in slices for picnic. Cross between and omelette, a souffle and a frittata. Personally, I prefer a simple frittata (with potatoes) but it is a good way of using up courgettes!

And if you are really feeling enthusiastic ....

see here!

Quick lunch or side dish ideas.
Chinese style. Slice a courgette lengthwise into long thin batons. Prep another vegetable, today I used rainbow chard but it could be mooli, kohl rabi or green beans. Fry in balti pan add a handful of cold chicken or marinated tofu and a sliced spring onion. Add a big splosh of light soy sauce, a shake of 5 spice and a heapy teaspoon of peanut butter plus a drop of water. Bring up to boil for about one minute.

Indian style same as above but use curry paste / powder and a couple of tablespoons of leftover dahl (or a tablespoon of peas pudding does the same trick) to make the sauce instead.

One courgette down 21 to go

Courgette cake is my favourite all time food.

Tip eat them really small.

Cut out the innards and freeze for stuffing sometime (or never).

I can't believe no ones mentioned spirilising them. You need a lot of courgettes for that. They make a brilliant alternative to spaghetti if you're on a low carb diet.

Courgette polpette is my absolute favourite www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jul/19/courgette-recipes-hugh-fearnley-whittingstall?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Also courgette, lemon & mayo pasta - while cooking pasta, use peeler to strip courgette in ribbons then line a colander with this. Drain pasta 'through' them and cooks them a bit. Stir mayo, grated lemon rind & juice, crushed garlic, in a bowl then stir in to pasta. Eat hot or cold.

I add courgette to scrambled eggs for breakfast at the weekend - very nice and a good way to sneak in some veggies for breakfast.