Courgettes Stuffed With Goats Cheese Lamb Ragout Food

BAKED COURGETTES STUFFED WITH SPICED LAMB & TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Make the tomato sauce in a medium pan by heating the oil and frying the garlic for 2-3 mins until soft, then adding the spices and frying for 1 min more. Pour in the tomatoes and sugar and simmer with half a tin of water for 20 mins, until thickened. Season.
• Meanwhile, scoop out and discard some of the flesh of the courgettes and lay them in 1 large or 2 small roasting trays, drizzle with the oil and bake for 15 mins until golden and softened slightly.
• For the stuffing, mix the lamb with the spices and some salt. Try not to squash it together too much, instead lightly mix it with your hands until just combined. When the courgettes are ready, pile the lamb into the cavities and drizzle on the sauce. Bake for 15-20 mins until the sauce is bubbling. Top with the coriander and serve.

COURGETTE & GOAT'S CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Lightly dust a surface with flour, then roll out the pastry into a large, 5mm thick circle. Use to line a deep, 23cm tart tin with removable base. Trim away excess pastry. Prick all over with a fork, then line with baking paper and fill with baking beans. Cook for 10-15 mins until starting to turn golden. Remove paper and beans, then cook for 5 mins more until crisp and cooked through. Leave to cool.
• Meanwhile, put the saffron in a cup with 1 tbsp hot water, then leave to infuse. Mix grated courgettes with 1 tsp salt, then place in a colander. Slice the last courgette very thinly lengthways into long ribbons (use a vegetable peeler). Sprinkle with salt, then put on top of the grated courgettes. Put the colander over a bowl to drain for at least 30 mins. Tip into the middle of a clean tea towel over the sink, twist and squeeze the tea towel getting every drop of the green liquid out.
• Melt the butter in a large frying pan. Put the courgette slices to one side and add the grated courgettes to the pan. Cook, stirring, for 3 mins. Tip the grated courgettes into a bowl. Lightly beat the eggs, then add all but 2 tbsp to the courgette bowl. Pour in the cream, the saffron and soaking water, then mix well. Season generously with pepper, and salt if it needs it (it may be salty enough).
• Reduce oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Brush the remaining beaten egg over the tart case. Bake for 5 mins, until the egg has set and sealed the case. Pour in the mix. Crumble on the goat's cheese. Lay the courgette strips over the top like the spokes of a wheel. Bake for 40 mins, until just set, but still a little wobbly. Cool and serve at room temperature.

CHARRED COURGETTE, LEMON & GOAT'S CHEESE GALETTE

Steps:

• The night before you make the galette, wrap the butter and put it in the freezer. When you're ready to make the pastry, put the plain flour, rye flour, thyme and sea salt in a large mixing bowl. Take the butter out of the freezer and wrap one end in foil, then use this to hold it as you coarsely grate the butter into the flour mixture. Unwrap the last piece of butter and carefully grate that in as well. Roughly mix everything, then add 5-6 tbsp cold water and mix swiftly with a cutlery knife to combine, then use your hands to bring it together into a dough and knead briefly. Wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hr. Will keep in the fridge for up to two days.
• For the topping, heat a griddle pan or non-stick frying pan over a high heat until searing hot, then griddle the spring onions in two batches and on each side for 1-2 mins, or until you have achieved dark char marks. Set aside on a plate, then repeat with the courgette strips. You can do this the day before and keep the cooked vegetables in an airtight container overnight.
• Mix the mascarpone and goat's cheese with the lemon zest and parmesan in a bowl until smooth. Season to taste and set aside.
• Roll the pastry out between two pieces of baking parchment to a rectangle roughly 35 x 25cm. Peel off the top layer of parchment and spread the cheese mixture over the pastry, leaving a 3cm border. Top with the spring onions and brush the border with some of the beaten egg. Use the parchment underneath to slide the galette onto a baking sheet. Chill for 30 mins.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and put another baking sheet inside to get hot. Brush the edges with more beaten egg, then slide the galette, still on its paper, onto the hot baking sheet. Bake for 30 mins, then top with the courgette and bake for a further 5 mins, or until the pastry is golden brown and crisp at the edges. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and scatter over some pine nuts, if you like. Goes well with mint sauce.