[xxtimbo]

thought they d be good for a salad...
slice them like cucumber...

but no, seems you ve got to cook them !
on the internet I read.... just dont boil them !

so wots best .... ? slice and fry them ?

[chopsim]

You don't have to cook them you can eat them raw. I put them in salads.

[degsyhufc]

How do you cook them on the internet?

[Gormagon]

I actually use them as a thickening material in stews.

I had similar thoughts that they could be used like cucumber, but personally didnt like the taste.

I now dice or grate them and put them in stews, they break down well and help thicken up the gravy.

[degsyhufc]

If you slice them thin you can make a quick pickle with them. Nice in a salad, be it salad, pasta or couscous/bulgarwheat or in a sandwich or just with cold meats.

[xxtimbo]

I followed advice, sliced them and put into a
salad...

but ... bit blande.... wots the point ?

probably worth pickling them for a day or two
like gherkins or something !

But you think, why grow them.... when your taking up space in your greenhouse that could be used to grow toms or peppers !

[stud u like]

Roast them in the oven with garlic and herbs.

Cut them into ribbons.

[degsyhufc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxtimbo

I followed advice, sliced them and put into a
salad...

but ... bit blande.... wots the point ?

probably worth pickling them for a day or two
like gherkins or something !

But you think, why grow them.... when your taking up space in your greenhouse that could be used to grow toms or peppers !

If you don't like them then either sell them or don't grow them. Surely you don't need people to tell you that?

[Gigi Michaels]

First post in this forum. Couldn't resist when courgettes are discussed. Here are just a few ways to use these gorgeous things:
1. Slice in half the long way. Scoop out the centre seeds. Spoon a good spaghetti sauce down the centre and then cover with your favourite cheese. Either bake at 200 C for about 20 minutes or put into a pan on the outdoor grill until cooked.
2. Grate them until you have about 4 cups. Drain them in a wire collander and use to make sweet bread in the same way that you'd make carrot cake.
3. Cut into cubes about 2" square. Use a skewer and alternate courgettes with large pieces of onion, bell peppers, and your favourite meat (pork or chicken work best). Make a marinade of soy sauce, honey and ginger and allow the skewers to soak up the marinade for a few hours. Put on the grill and turn frequently until the meat is cooked (doesn't take long since the pieces are small.
You mentioned using them sliced in salads. They are rather like aubergine in that they don't have a lot of flavour when raw. Best if sliced and then allowed to soak in a good vinegar, a little (very little) sugar and a drizzle of olive oil.
Sorry I've written so much but I simply love to cook and didn't know this forum existed until this morning. I do hope you can enjoy your courgettes this summer since they're so fabulous when fresh. Cheers everyone.

[barbeler]

Put them into curries and lasagnes; sprinkle them with herbs and give them a few minutes in a microwave steamer (then add them to your salad) or even fry them. I love them.

[swingaleg]

Over the last few years I've really beefed up* my vegetable intake and I've tried loads of things

I'm afraid I just didn't like courgettes........I think I tried them just sliced and simmered with some other veg and served with a knob of butter and pepper. I'm also had them in a curry which was Ok but obviously you couldn't taste them

* unfortunate phrase !

There's not many that I've tried that I didn't like.......courgettes, asparagus, okra would be 3 that come to mind

[Isambard Brunel]

They're the vegetable version of a cucumber - bland tasting and full of water.

The best way to cook them is to fry them along with some meat or fish. Frying them means they don't turn to sludge, and the fat and juices from the meat/fish will add some flavour to them.

They taste best added to a fork with other, flavoursome food already on it (bit of potato, steak, etc).

[MelodyMaker]

I use courgettes a lot, cooked and raw, yes they don't taste too strong but like many other veg, they can taste lovely when paired with other ingredients.

I grate them raw into salads or stews and curries, cut into matchsticks for stir fries, my absolutely fave way is to cut them lengthwise very thinly, dress them in some olive oil, seasoning and then chargrilled them in my griddle pan, after which dress them up with garlic and herbs, this really brings out their flavour, very tasty. Often do this also with aubergines.

[Toby LaRhone]

Courgettes and aubergines.
What are they for?
On Death Row, for your last meal, you wouldn't possibly ask for them would you?

[degsyhufc]

I can't recall having ratatouille without corgettes or aubergine.

Ratatouille is a great sauce. You can have it as a replacement for tinned tomatoes to up the veg content.
Even if you think they have no flavour they can't be doing you any harm. Surely a bit more veg is good for you?

[Toby LaRhone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by degsyhufc

I can't recall having ratatouille without corgettes or aubergine.

Ratatouille is a great sauce. You can have it as a replacement for tinned tomatoes to up the veg content.
Even if you think they have no flavour they can't be doing you any harm. Surely a bit more veg is good for you?

I eat lots of veg.
I just wouldn't put the two in question on my fave list.
Although, on another thread on here, I described a fabulous dish I ate containing courgette

[Paulie Walnuts]

Courgette & walnut cake is absolutely delicious:

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2...ette-loaf-cake

[barbeler]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toby LaRhone

Courgettes and aubergines.
What are they for?

Moussaka?

[phepia]

I like them with fried bell peppers, mushrooms when doing a fry up. Fry the bacon in a frying pan, retain the juices then cook the veggies in the bacon fat.
I also add them to bolognese for extra veg.

I don't like them raw and on their own they have no taste, just texture. But add things like garlic, tomato and such like I will happily eat them.
The rest of my family hate them and when they have been served a meal the courgettes are always left on the plate, even if I try and hide them by cutting up really small.

[stud u like]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toby LaRhone

Courgettes and aubergines.
What are they for?
On Death Row, for your last meal, you wouldn't possibly ask for them would you?

Baba Ghanoush!

[gmphmac]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stud u like

Roast them in the oven with garlic and herbs.

Cut them into ribbons.

This! Garlic, dried oregano, black pepper and olive oil - delicious!

A little tip as well: buy firm courgettes, as they're sweet and crunchy. Soft veg tend to go slimy.

[burton07]

I accidentally bought two courgette plants in the garden centre instead of cucumbers (They were tiny with only their seed leaves so I couldn't tell the difference- yes, I know there was a label.....). Anyway they grew and I only found out that they were courgette plants when I went to transplant them. They have now grown massive and are covered in courgettes - which nobody in our house likes. However the flowers are pretty and apparently are edible. I will cook the courgettes when they are ready and hide them in stews and sauces.

[Toby LaRhone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by burton07

I accidentally bought two courgette plants in the garden centre instead of cucumbers (They were tiny with only their seed leaves so I couldn't tell the difference- yes, I know there was a label.....). Anyway they grew and I only found out that they were courgette plants when I went to transplant them. They have now grown massive and are covered in courgettes - which nobody in our house likes. However the flowers are pretty and apparently are edible. I will cook the courgettes when they are ready and hide them in stews and sauces.

Google for the flowers deep fried in tempura batter.
After a certain size aren't courgettes then classed as marrows?

[MelodyMaker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stud u like

Baba Ghanoush!

Yummy!

[Roni_J]

I like courgettes in a salad but I find they needed to be grated and salted to withdraw the water.