How to prepare courgettes
Preparing courgettes is fairly simple. You just need to remember 3 things: 1) the bigger they are, the less good they will be, 2) they never need to be peeled, and 3) the central part with the seeds is pretty tasteless.
30 min.
Easy
2 pieces
1 IngredientLast modified on: June 8th 2011
For 2 pieces, you will need:
2 
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 30 min.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 1 min.
Scrub the courgettes in water with a scourer to get them smooth.
Stage 2 - 1 min.
Cut off the ends.
Stage 3 - 5 min.
If you want rounds, you're almost done: slice them with a knife or, better still, using a mandolin.
Stage 4 - 2 min.
If you want diced courgettes, cut them in 4 lengthways.
Stage 5 - 3 min.
With a knife, cut off the central part containing the seeds.
Stage 6
You should only keep the part with the skin, without seeds.
Stage 7 - 5 min.
Cut this lengthways...
Stage 8 - 10 min.
...and finally across to produce small triangles.
Your courgette is now ready to use.
Your courgette is now ready to use.
Stage 9 - 2 min.
If you are only using a mandolin, it is better to cut the courgette into chunks first, then cut these on the mandolin...
Stage 10
...turning them every time you get the the seeds in the centre.
Stage 11
This will produce small sticks, the length of the chunks, which can then be cut into dice if you wish.
Remarks
The idea that "the bigger a courgette is, the less flavour it has" is not easy to put over, especially as amateur gardeners usually think quite the opposite: "Ooh, a big courgette - yummy!" But unfortunately the big ones (on the way to becoming marrows) are only good for stuffing.
The Pourcel brothers (chef twins) only use courgettes that have seeds for making a puree which is then sieved.
The Pourcel brothers (chef twins) only use courgettes that have seeds for making a puree which is then sieved.
Keeping: Several days in the fridge, in a closed jar.
Source: Home made.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 0 | 0 | 20 RDI=2 % | 140 RDI=7 % | 570 RDI: 7 % |
| Per 100 g | 0 | 0 | 3 RDI=0 % | 30 RDI=1 % | 110 RDI: 1 % |
| Per piece | 0 | 0 | 7 RDI=1 % | 70 RDI=3 % | 280 RDI: 3 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 2 pieces : 1.50 €
- Per piece : 0.75 €
Change currency: 
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Courgette
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