When we first got our allotment, we thought the wisest thing to do would be to grow a little at a time. Let’s not over exert and plant every bit of land. Let’s sit back, learn and take things easy. At the beginning of the summer we looked upon our allotment after yet another afternoon of weeding the empty spaces and decided enough was enough. If we were going to have to weed every week, we may as well have the satisfaction of planting something to weed around!
So we decided upon beetroot, courgettes and spaghetti squash along 5 neat rows. We opted for two varieties of courgettes. The usual long green ones and a more unusual round yellow one. I know that’s not a very technical explanation but I have thrown the seed packets away!
Perfect globes of yellow goodness
They sprouted up beautifully over the summer and were only two weeks behind everyone else around us. But as we prepared to go on holiday for two weeks we feared it would all go awry with no-one to tend to them. But we need not have feared. Thankfully England had rain most of the time we were away so we returned to beautiful healthy plants, with not too many weeds around them.
So proud to see lovely blooms on baby courgettes
The round variety peeking through
And we have been cooking with them ever since…
We started out with the stunning flowers. I couldn’t believe how many we had. In fact I think next year I will sell them to the Italian restaurant on our road as he says they are so hard to find. We I must have had over a hundred so far. No-one said not to plant the whole seed packet!
My courgette blooms
These crunchy bhajias have been our staple Saturday evening snack for XFactor and Strictly. I’m addicted to all three now. I stuffed them with ricotta mixed with my nasturtium pesto and then also with mozzarella and anchovies. Both served with a tomato salsa.
Mozzarella and Anchovy Stuffed Courgette Flowers
Then of course some soup. The yellow globe variety produced a wonderous, sweet soup which I served simply with some feta, cumin and parsley gremolata on top and sourdough. I made a huge potful and have frozen the rest.
Courgette Soup with Cumin, Feta and Parsley
And finally some brownies. You’d never know these had courgettes grated in. The texture was soft and gooey as you would expect but a little more virtuous than a traditional recipe with no butter or chocolate.
Courgette and Chocolate Brownies
It’s also gone into salads raw or in thin strips, mixed vegetable curry, risotto, ondhwo (an Indian lentil cake) and pasta, noodles and so on and so on. Allotment production does seem to be slowing down due to the colder weather. The crop is smaller and something is having a little nibble on the yellow ones every night. I’m not sure I’ll plant so many next year because I must confess we have reached courgette overload but it has been wonderfully satisfying eating something grown from seed and picked freshly on the day.
Wow, those little brownies are sooooooo cute!! Who could have thought that a courgette could look so good. I can do no better for a recipie than to refer you to Zuchinni (courgette) risotto, by Bill Granger, not sure if there is a recipie online anywhere, but it is a bake in the oven risotto, with chopped toms added and finely sliced courgette, it is divine!!
Thank you. I’ve added in a link to the recipe. It’s so easy so I hope you’ll give them a try. Risotto is a good one. Might try that this week. With the colder weather, the courgettes aren’t getting big before something nibbles at them so I’ve picked a few to stuff a bit like the Diana Henry Squash recipe. Will let you know how I get on!
Great photos, you’ve turned courgette growing into art! I only grew the ‘standard’ green courgettes this year, but I definitely want some of the yellow ones again next time – your soup with gremolata looks fantastic. Courgette in chocolate brownies though? … even I wouldn’t dare to try to get my kids to eat those!
Honestly you should try them. So easy. I’ve added a link to the recipe. You can go gluten free too and add rice flour instead of the plain. Gives a more cake like texture. Or spelt flour and go even more virtuous!
Reblogged this on eugenejferguson.
Thank you 🙂
Urvashi, I really enjoyed this brilliant and inspiring post; clever and creative as well as colourful. Great job x
Thank you. I’m getting rather fond of growing stuff!
What a wonderful selection of goodies! The yellow globe varieties certainly look interesting – I’ll investigate those for next year. You have had much better success with your courgettes than I have this year. 🙁
I think it was the right timing. We had some super warm weeks so all the seedlings did really well. This week we barely got a tennis ball sized courgette before something starts munching on it!
I’m no gardener but I’m tempted to grow some of these! I always buy yellow courgettes when I see them but it’s never very often 🙁
Yes that why we liked the idea of growing them too. Only ever seen them in Sainsbury’s in bags of 4 at silly prices! I must remember to give you a plant next year. We got about 15 plants with so many throngs. Well no-one said don’t plant all the seeds! We were just so excited when all the seedlings popped up, I couldn’t bear to ‘thin’ as suggested!
The botanical gods have been kind to you and other gardeners this year. That haul of squash blossoms sounds amazing! I would have loved to make up stuffed blossoms with all of your suggestions. Because of the hens we really only grow kale (they hate it), chard, sorrel and other kinds of bitter or tart things. Even with nets the little blighters get into everything. They would think it was their birthday if we planted squash with all those pretty, tempting flowers. Lucky you! Now go and enjoy a rest from all that harvesting 😀
They have been very kind indeed! I love the look of chard but to be honest not a fan of chard. Love sorrel though so may try planting that next year. Hopefully whatever has recently been eating my crop will stop! I’m on a roll!
We grow courgettes in our garden in Tuscany and always fry the flowers with mozzarella and anchovies, they’re delicious! I tried to make some oven baked this week and they came out really well too! Will have to try out the courgette chocolate brownies, they sound fab!
Ooooh I would love the recipe for the oven baked version if you have written it up? strike that. Just found your blog post! The finished dish looks gorgeous!