Stuffed Baked Courgettes Food

ITALIAN STUFFED COURGETTES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Place the courgettes in a single layer in a shallow ovenproof dish, fairly tightly together, cut-side up. Brush lightly with 1 tsp oil and bake for 20 mins.
• To make the stuffing, mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and season with lots of black pepper.
• Sprinkle the stuffing on top of the courgettes and drizzle with the remaining olive oil. Bake for a further 10-15 mins or until the courgettes are softened and the topping is golden and crisp. Serve hot with a mixed salad.

STUFFED BAKED COURGETTES WITH GARLIC & HERB CRUMBS & PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Carefully scoop out and discard the watery core from the courgettes using a teaspoon, leaving a 1cm border. This should give you a 'boat' shape for the filling.
• Put the garlic, breadcrumbs, lemon zest, olive oil, oregano, thyme and a pinch of sea salt in a medium bowl and stir to combine.
• Carefully spoon the filling into the hollowed-out courgettes. Sprinkle the pine nuts on top and bake for 18-25 mins until the courgettes are tender and the crumbs golden.

SAUSAGE & HERB STUFFED COURGETTES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Using a teaspoon, scoop out the flesh from the courgettes, then roughly chop.
• Heat the oil in a large frying pan and cook the onion for 6-8 mins until soft. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 min more. Add the chopped courgette and cook for a further 6 mins until really tender.
• Remove from the heat and tip into a bowl along with the breadcrumbs, cheese, parsley and the sausagemeat. Mix together well.
• Spoon the mixture into the hollowed out courgette halves and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 mins - cover towards the end if browning - until the courgettes are tender and the filling is golden. Serve with a salad, if you like.

CHEESY BAKED COURGETTES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Use a teaspoon to scoop the seeds from the middle of each courgette half, then place them in a large baking tray.
• Mix together the ricotta, zest, chilli and herbs, and season with salt and pepper. Pile the stuffing into the courgettes and top with breadcrumbs. Bake for 35 mins until the courgettes are tender and the topping is golden and crisp.

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.