This morning I was shopping. Food shopping.
So this morning I checked the fridge & the pantry, made some mental notes & started for my trusted food store. In my mind I pondered about what to do for lunch …
For little lunches at home we prefer something fast to prepare, light & delicious. We often decide on vegetables pimped w/ cheese or whatever meat is in our fridge. (Or pasta!!!)
In my trusted food store this morning I found fine courgettes. Several times before I made baked courgette … so now just start another try!
It’s simply cutting a courgettes into halves, hollow them, fill something savory into the courgettes & let it bake in the oven. The courgettes look somewhat like little boats or ships … moored … That’s why I talk about swimming courgettes.
(I never get it right … the difference I mean between a boat & a ship.)
I bought 3 courgettes. Each is about 200-250 g. (My better half later asked for another one …) Courgettes of this size take about 25-30 min in oven. If you happen to get larger ones adjust the length of the oven session.
In my fridge there is always some cheese; today I took a piece of Parmesan cheese to be grated later. I also have some bacon stocked in my fridge. I prefer the thin slices which may be chopped into a fine bacon mess. … & I had some spring onions.
I had 3 courgettes. For each courgette you’ll need 1 slice of bacon (about 10 g), 1 spring onion & about 5-10 g grated cheese. So if like to do 4 or 5 courgettes just adjust the amounts in the recipe.
Cleaning & trimming the courgettes is state of the art & easy: just cut off the head.
Chopping the spring onions & the bacon … adding some olive oil & dried thyme … frying softly.
In the meantime the courgettes are halved & hollowed out w/ a little help of a knife & a spoon.
The pulp is chopped & marches into the frying pan to join the spring onions & the bacon.
Let it fry for some minutes & add a splash of cream. It’ll get to dry otherwise. Add salt & pepper to taste.
Line a baking tray w/ baking parchment & arrange the courgettes.
Fill the courgettes w/ the mess of the frying pan.
Afterwards grate the Parmesan all over the courgettes.
I didn’t preheat the oven; it’s not necessary. For 30 min the courgettes lounged in the oven at 175° C w/ fan. Finally they are very soft & creamy & the filling is crisp. (If you like your courgette a little less soft just end the oven session after 25 min.)
Each of us had 3 courgette halves together w/ some fresh baguette. Fine.
Other options?
- You may use Pecorino cheese instead of Parmesan cheese. You may also use Mozzarella (thinly sliced) on top …
- You may add minced sundried tomatoes to the spring onions & the bacon.
- You may use minced meat instead of bacon.
I think you get it. There is more than one approach how to fill the courgettes. Just one thing: don’t overdo!
Enjoy!
- 3 courgettes à about 200 – 250 g each
- 3 spring onions
- 30 g bacon (thinly sliced)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ¼ tsp dried thyme
- 2-3 tbsp cream
- salt & pepper to taste
- 10-15 g Parmesan cheese (grated)
- Clean & trim the courgettes. Cut them lengthwise into halves.
- Chop the spring onions & the bacon & start frying in a pan w/ olive oil. Add the dried thyme. Don't burn the mess!
- Hollow out the courgettes & chop the pulp; fry it w/ the rest. Add salt & pepper to taste.
- Add some cream & fry for some more minutes.
- Place the courgettes on a baking tray lined w/ baking parchment.
- Spread the mess into each courgette.
- Grate Parmesan cheese all over the courgettes.
- Put the baking tray in the oven & set the oven to 175° C w/ fan for about 30 min.
- Serve at once.
