Tag Archives: courgette

Zucchini Soup

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Zucchini Soup-4705

A wonderful, easy, quick, delicious recipe! Serve as a starter, lunch or, with some bread, for dinner.

Serves 4

6-7 medium sized zucchini/courgette, washed (no need to peel)
1 liter of vegetable broth (or more if you want a thinner soup)
Dash of salt
(optional: black pepper and a drop of agave/maple syrup)

2 tsp Boursin garlic soft cheese (or just 1/3 of a minced garlic clove)

Optional: 50 ml sour cream (or coconut cream)

Decoration: Parsley and 2 tbsp of sour cream

1. Cut the zucchini into thick slices. Place in a saucepan along with the vegetable broth and salt.
2. Simmer 15-20 minutes until the zucchini is soft.
3. Take off heat, add the cheese and blend with a hand-held immersion blender. (At this point you may also add the optional sour cream – this will make the soup creamier)
4. Add some more broth if you prefer a thinner soup. Reheat if the soup got too cool.
5. Season with more salt and pepper, if needed. A drop of agave or maple syrup can help balance the flavours.
6. Pour into serving bowls, drizzle sour cream and add some parsley leaves.

Oat Groat Risotto

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This dish is like a normal risotto but with a fuller, nuttier flavour as I use oat groats instead of rice. If you don’t cook with oat groats already then it is time to try it out!

Groats are the hulled kernel of the grain which is rich in fibre and protein. It will keep you fuller for a longer time, has less carbs than rice and is also, supposedly, helpful against high cholesterol. But first and foremost, it has lots of wonderful flavour!

Serves 6

400 ml oat groats
800 ml chicken broth or water and vegetable stock cube
100 g Parmesan, grated (or some crumbled feta cheese)
600 g brown button mushrooms, sliced
100 ml sundried tomatoes
100 g fresh spinach leaves
1 red onion, finely chopped
Salt and pepper

Zucchini, thin slices, for decorations

• Sauté the mushrooms over medium heat until all liquid has evaporated. Add the onion and sauté until soft. Stir in the sundried tomatoes and the spinach during the last few minutes.
• Boil the oat groats in bullion over medium heat (this has a tendency to overflow while boiling so keep a close watch) until done (15-45 minutes, please see the manufacturers recommendation – some will tell you to soak the groats before cooking).
• Add the mushroom mix into the ready oats.
• Take off heat and stir the Parmesan cheese (or feta cheese) into the mix.
• Season.

Serve with a fresh salad or, as I’ve done here, on a braided Zucchini/Courgette mat.

Spicy Organic Chicken Casserole

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160824 Chicken Casserole-1272

A wholesome casserole, full of flavor. Serve with gluten free pasta, rice, marinated zucchini noodles (see recipe below) and/or the Parmesan Muffins I posted a few weeks ago.

Serves 4

500 g free-range organic chicken, cut into pieces
Olive oil

3 carrots, thick slices
100 g root celery, cut into pieces about the same size as the carrots
5 shallots, chopped
Olive oil

1 clove of garlic, crushed

800 grams of peeled, canned cherry tomatoes in its juice
2 bay leaves
1 chicken bouillon/stock cube
50 ml lemon juice
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
Salt and black pepper

6 slices Serrano ham, cut into smaller pieces
Fresh thyme for decoration

1. Fry the chicken in a bit of oil until colored, set aside
2. Sautee the carrots, shallots and celery. When done, add the garlic and sauté for another minute.
3. Add the tomatoes, bay leaves, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, spices and let simmer for 15 minutes.
4. Add the chicken and simmer another 10 minutes, or, until the chicken is done.
5. Add the ham and simmer 2-3 minutes.
6. Sprinkle some oregano on top.

160825 Marinated Courgette-8213

Marinated Zucchini Noodles

These noodles are quick and easy to make and simply delicious. I like to marinate them a little more than 30 minutes – this way the zucchini has time to soften and the flavor of the marinade penetrate the dish.

3 medium size zucchinis
2 tbsp of white wine vinegar
4 tbsp olive oil
Salt and black pepper

1. Whisk the marinade.
2. Using a spiralizer, create the noodle like threads of the zucchini.
3. Pour the marinade over the zucchini and let stand for +30 minutes.

Anchovy Courgette Pasta

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160106 Courgette Anjovy Pasta-0775

The courgette pasta, courgette cut into long spaghetti strands (you do need a spiral slicer/spiralizer), is wonderful when combined with a flavoursome sauce. This anchovy sauce is both salty and sharp in taste, the perfect addition to this dish!

4 anchovies (tinned)
1 onion, chopped
1 tbsp tomato puree
Chili flakes
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp capers

400 g chopped tomatoes
200 ml black olives, chopped

A handful of dry roasted pecans, pine nuts and pistachio nuts
Parmesan cheese, grated

5 courgettes, spiralized

  1. On medium heat, fry the anchovies and onion in the oil
  2. Add the tomato puree and chili flakes. Let cook 1-2 minutes
  3. Add the capers and cook another minute
  4. Add tomatoes and olives.
  5. Let simmer 5-10 minutes
  6. In a dry frying pan, toast the nuts, then add them to the anchovy mix.
  7. Using a spiralizer, create spaghetti looking strands from the courgette.
  8. Fry the courgette a few minutes on high heat.
  9. Serve with some Parmesan cheese.

Pepper and Courgette Starter

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Light and fresh, possibly with a hint of garlic. Don’t overcook the vegetables, keep them crunchy. This is a low foodmap recipe.
Serves 6
1 red pepper, thinly sliced
1 yellow pepper, thinly sliced
1 orange pepper, thinly sliced
3-4 tbsp lemon juice
4 Courgettes, cut into strand with a spiral slicer
Oil for frying (you may use garlic infused oil)
Salt, lemon pepper
Almonds, flaked and toasted (max 10 g per person)
Baby spinach

  1. Mix the peppers with some lemon juice, set aside.
  2. Stir fry the courgettes in the oil over high heat, add the peppers and fry another minute. Season with salt and lemon pepper.
  3. Line small molds with clingfilm and turn onto a bed of spinach on a servingplate.
  4. Decorate with the toasted almonds.

Rosemary Courgette Spaghetti

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I love making dishes with Courgette Spaghetti. There are so many possibilities. This version is not so spicy in order not to take anything away from the crabcakes. For this recipe, you need a “spiralizer” or a mandoline (with blades to make “juliennes”).

Serve as part of a dinner with:
Starter – Fresh and Fruity Vegetable Starter
Main course – Together with Chilli Crab Cakes and Home Made Chilli Sauce
Dessert – Sweet and Sour Sauce with Strawberries and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Serves 4
2 large courgettes
1 stalk of fresh rosemary
1 clove of garlic
olive oil
Chilli flakes, salt and pepper

1. Using a spiralizer, create long, spaghetti like, strands of courgette. Take care not to make them too long. Cut with scissors now and then, if needed.
2. Start by infusing the olive oil. Heat the oil in a pan and add the rosemary and the peeled, whole garlic clove. Sauté for a few minutes.
3. Saving the flavoured oil, discard the rosemary and garlic and place the courgette spaghetti in the hot pan. Fry on high heat for a few minutes, drain on paper towels, season with salt and pepper and serve with some sprinkled chili flakes on top.