FORGET CUCUMBERS; COURGETTES ARE OUR SEASONAL FAVOURITE FOR FAST SUPPERS AND FLAVOURSOME LUNCHES
Cheddar, potato and courgette tortilla
SERVES 4 PREPARATION TIME 20 minutes, plus cooling
COOKING TIME about 30 minutes
• 3 medium potatoes, unpeeled
• 100g sun-blush tomatoes in oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 2 small-medium courgettes, 1 thinly sliced and 1 coarsely grated
• 6 medium eggs
• Finely chopped mint leaves and flat-leaf parsley
• 150g Cheddar, diced
1 Cook potatoes in a large pan of boiling water for 12-15min, until tender. Drain, leave until cool enough to handle, then peel and finely slice.
2 Take 2tbsp oil from the tomatoes and heat in a 23cm non-stick frying pan (that has a lid). Add onion, garlic and courgettes and cook, stirring, for 5min. Tip into a large bowl.
3 Beat eggs in a jug with most of the mint and parsley (reserving a pinch of each to serve) and plenty of seasoning. Preheat grill.
4 In the same frying pan, layer courgette mixture with the potato slices, cheese and drained tomatoes. Pour egg mixture into the pan. Cover pan with a lid and cook for 10min, then grill until set on top. Serve sprinkled with the reserved herbs.
Courgette orzo with prawns
SERVES 4 PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes
COOKING TIME about 15 minutes
• 350g dried orzo pasta
• 1tbsp butter
• 1tbsp olive oil
• 1 red chilli, deseeded and chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 4 spring onions, finely chopped
• 3 medium courgettes, coarsely grated
• Finely grated zest 1 lemon
• 150g cream cheese with herbs
• 300g large cooked prawns, peeled
(leave tails on a few for presentation, if wished)
• 4tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 Cook pasta in a large pan of boiling salted water, according to pack instructions.
2 Meanwhile, heat butter and olive oil in a pan until butter melts. Add the chilli, garlic, spring onions and courgettes. Fry for 5min, stirring regularly. Add the lemon zest and cook for 1min. Stir in the cream cheese and prawns, mix until the cheese melts, then season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
3 When cooked, drain pasta thoroughly, then add to the courgette mixture. Stir in chopped parsley and serve.
Stuffed courgette, salmon and ricotta rolls
MAKES 12 SERVES 4 PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes
COOKING TIME about 15 minutes
• 3 large courgettes, ends trimmed
• 4tbsp olive oil, plus extra to drizzle
• 150g ricotta
• 1tbsp finely grated lemon zest
• 4tbsp finely chopped dill
• 4tbsp finely chopped chives
• 200
