Courgettes appetizer

Every time I cook an interesting meat or fish-based main meal, I also think about which vegetables I should accompany it with. Let’s face it: potatoes are almost always on the list in one way or another; therefore, I try to get different vegetables on the plate too, and I very often end up with the beautiful summery courgettes appetizer or zucchine.

I shall never understand why children, at least my children, didn't appreciate courgettes very much when they were little. I just waited patiently, offering them anyway, until they became young adults to appreciate the enormous change in their tastes: now, they devour courgettes in one go like I’d never thought it could have ever happened!

And this simple recipe will show you exactly this sort of evolution.

Provare per credere aka Seeing is believing!

Baked courgettes appetizer

Good To Know

Did you know that courgettes come from North and Central America? And that they belong to the family of squashes? Originally, like 7,000 years ago, they didn’t have the shape and size they have now. The courgettes we know today were bred in the 19th century in northern Italy. In the early 20th century, some Italian immigrants reintroduced courgettes back to North America. That’s why courgettes are also known worldwide by the Italian name “zucchine” rather than the French "courgettes".

Courgettes are rich in potassium, vitamins A, C, B6, and their skin is also a good source of fibre.

Ingredients serves 4-6

1. Courgettes, 6

2. Extra virgin olive oil, half a glass

3. Breadcrumbs, 100 g

4. Pecorino cheese, 50 g

5. Parmesan cheese, 50 g

6. Oregano, 2-3 tbsp

7. Garlic, 1 clove, crushed

8. Salt and pepper

Let’s jump to the method

1. Get ready all the ingredients.

2. Switch the oven on at 200° C.

3. Put the breadcrumbs in a medium-sized bowl. Add the grated pecorino, the grated parmesan, the oregano, the crushed garlic, salt, and pepper.

4. Add the olive oil as well and mix all together until the ingredients are combined. Set aside.

5. Wash the courgettes thoroughly. Dry them with a clean kitchen cloth.

6. Cut them into rounds about 1/2 cm thick. If you prefer, you can cut them into sticks approximately 5 cm long and 1 cm thick.

7. Now, add the courgettes to the bowl with the breadcrumb mixture and gently mix together.

8. Prepare an oven tray with baking paper.

9. Line each courgette dipped in the breadcrumb mixture on the oven tray. If any breadcrumb mixture is left, don't waste it: add it too.

10. Drizzle with olive oil.

11. Bake for about 15-20 minutes until the crumbs are golden.

12. Serve courgettes as an appetizer or as a side in your main dish.

13. Buon appetito!

Courgettes appetizer