Courgettes are a member of the Cucurbit family, which includes squash, cucumber and melon.
Next to potatoes these are an easy to grow and prolific vegetable. They don’t freeze satisfactorily but an easy way to preserve any glut is to incorporate them into soups sauces chutneys and cakes which can then be frozen. Here’s a couple of recipes
Courgette Soup
1kg courgettes
a large potato
1 l stock veg or chicken
1 onion
2 tbsp olive oil
salt pepper paprika chilli to taste
gently cook the courgettes & onion in oil until soft
add a pinch of chilli & paprika
add stock, salt and pepper
blend or mash the mixture
and cook on a low heat until the mixture reaches your preferred consistency
allow to cool then freeze
Basic Courgette Cake
250g courgettes
150g sugar
225g self raising flour
125ml sunflower oil
2 eggs
a teaspoon baking powder
Grate the courgettes add oil and eggs
Combine dry ingredients and fold in the courgettes oil and egg mixture.
Divide mixture between 2 bread tins
Cook at gas mark 4 for 30 minutes.
