How to prepare courgettes


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.
281 K 3.6/5 (104 reviews)
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Last modified on: June 8th 2011
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Times for this recipe
Preparation: 30 min.
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Step by step recipe


Stage 1 - 1 min.
How to prepare courgettes
Scrub the courgettes in water with a scourer to get them smooth.

Stage 2 - 1 min.
How to prepare courgettes
Cut off the ends.

Stage 3 - 5 min.
How to prepare courgettes
If you want rounds, you're almost done: slice them with a knife or, better still, using a mandolin.

Stage 4 - 2 min.
How to prepare courgettes
If you want diced courgettes, cut them in 4 lengthways.

Stage 5 - 3 min.
How to prepare courgettes
With a knife, cut off the central part containing the seeds.

Stage 6
How to prepare courgettes
You should only keep the part with the skin, without seeds.

Stage 7 - 5 min.
How to prepare courgettes
Cut this lengthways...

Stage 8 - 10 min.
How to prepare courgettes
...and finally across to produce small triangles.

Your courgette is now ready to use.

Stage 9 - 2 min.
How to prepare courgettes
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
How to prepare courgettes
...turning them every time you get the the seeds in the centre.

Stage 11
How to prepare courgettes
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.
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 recipe0020 RDI=2 %140 RDI=7 %570 RDI: 7 %
Per 100 g003 RDI=0 %30 RDI=1 %110 RDI: 1 %
The % figures are calculated in relation to the Recommended Dietary Intake , or RDI of 2,000 k-calories (or 8,400 k-joules) per day for a woman Change to a man
How much will it cost?
  • For : 1.50 €

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Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
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The 1 comment already posted on this recipe
  • Thanks for sharing, j.h. The removing of the seeds seems so obvious and yet, I never thought to use your method.
    Posted by Louise june 8th 2011 at 12:14 n° 1
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