Courgettes..?

Columbo · 24 Jul 2011 at 08:16

I like nearly all foods, hell I've eaten things a dog would turn down and enjoyed it.!

However I'm seriously at a loss with Courgettes. They taste of almost nothing, go horrible and slimy when cooked and are inedible when raw.

I made a tomato and courgette soup a few night nights ago as a last attempt at liking them. The soup was ruined by the sodding things.

Am I doing it wrong or should I finally kick the things into touch and just accept they are the food of Satan?

Ahleckz · 24 Jul 2011 at 09:22

I came in here to express my displeasure of them but ypuve done it far more succinctly than I c0uld. Truly horrible things.

Glaucus · 24 Jul 2011 at 10:57

They are amazing, have a rich taste. If they are slimy you are doing it wrong. Boiled but not to much with a touch of butter with mash and gravy is heavenly.

Got a really good roast morrocan courgette recipe somewhere. Will try and post it later tonight.

PixelChef · 24 Jul 2011 at 10:57

Roasted or fried with olive oil they are fine, or blended into pasta sauce, can't imagine having them in soup.

e : never tried them boiled.

Loki · 24 Jul 2011 at 11:01

Courgette is a really subtle flavour, so it all depends what your cooking it with. If you go for big bold flavours, the humble courgette will always be elbowed out.

A really simple dish is tagliatelle with courgette, chilli and king prawn. it's simple, subtle, quick to cook and tasty.

Cook pasta in salted water.

Whilst that is cooking, chop a small red chilli and lightly fry in olive oil and garlic for about five minutes. While cooking use a potato peeler and Take some ver thick shavings of courgette. Add your king prawns to the chilli and garlic oil. This should come together just before your pasta is cooked. About a minute before the prawns are done, add the courgette shavings go the prawns and oil. Just enough to heat them really. Turn off heat to prawns. Drain the pasta and then add your prawns and courgette to the pasta et voila.

If you want it a bit wetter, keep a. Couple of spoons of the water from the pasta and mix into the final dish, add a spoonful of Sun dried tomato puree and you have one truly beautiful dish done in around 15 minutes or less with the humble courgette going toe to toe with the mighty chilli and taming some of it's heat

uchuff · 24 Jul 2011 at 11:21

Fried in a little olive oil and butter they are delicious, nice in pasta sauces too. Also had them as a side in a Spanish restaurant and they had slightly battered them and fried then I think, lovely.

Have never tried them boiled, can't imagine that being nice.

krooton · 24 Jul 2011 at 12:47

They are delicious roasted!

HeadlessChicken · 24 Jul 2011 at 13:57

Slice uber thin lengthways (I use my potato peeler), toss with decent olive oil, lemon juice & seasoning. Great little salad.

dannyjo22 · 24 Jul 2011 at 14:16

Olive oil and or butter. Splash of lemon juice and Basil.

Disco Boy · 24 Jul 2011 at 14:32

I find them much nicer steamed than boiled.

They're nice grilled with a bit of olive oil and pepper too.

memyselfandi · 24 Jul 2011 at 15:27

I have to agree with Acidhell2, if you are finding them horrible and slimy then you are doing it wrong and are probably over cooking them.

Personally I like them in ratatouille or in a simple salad as given above

alexakasloth · 24 Jul 2011 at 15:45

A little bit of olive oil, salt and pepper is all courgettes need, chop them up so that they're chunky (if they're baby courgettes just halve them) and roast at a high heat until they brown... if they're going soggy it's because there is to much oil and they're over cooked.

They go well in goulash, or with some roasted portobello mushrooms with a roast.

uchuff · 24 Jul 2011 at 15:49

krooton said:
They are delicious roasted!

This too actually, forgot to mention this. Roasted with peppers, red onion, mushrooms, tomatoes etc - tossed through couscous makes a nice side.

Stag · 24 Jul 2011 at 15:51

They are awesome barbecued, just cut them in half lengthways, brush with oil and stick them on.

A.N.Other · 24 Jul 2011 at 16:15

Fried in olive oil and butter with a load of garlic, salt and pepper. Simple.

khimbar · 24 Jul 2011 at 16:17

Griddle them, sliced in half. Yummy. And I quite like them raw..

krooton · 24 Jul 2011 at 16:22

uchuff said:
This too actually, forgot to mention this. Roasted with peppers, red onion, mushrooms, tomatoes etc - tossed through couscous makes a nice side.

I chuck the above (sans couscous) in with fresh fusilli and chunks of goats cheese.

arc@css · 24 Jul 2011 at 17:32

memyselfandi said:
ratatouille

Doctor McNinja · 24 Jul 2011 at 18:58

I used to hate the things, to me they were just those slimy green things they ruin coleslaw with but once I had them properly cooked, I changed my mind.

My favourite way of having them is in a simple pasta sauce, with plenty of celery. I cut the Courgettes into ribbons using a potato peeler and put them into the sauce a few minutes before serving. It's just long enough to cook them but they retain a little bite. It really brings out the subtle floral taste.

Columbo · 24 Jul 2011 at 19:34

There maybe life in the old Courgettes yet looking at some of the above advice.

I do really hate admitting defeat as well, I have to not like something about 20 times before I put it on the hit list.

Will buy me some more in the week and see what I can rustle up.!