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Soft Courgettes with Chickpeas, Lemon and Mint
Introduction from Alexandra Dudley
This courgette dish reminds me of high summer when it is warm enough to sit outside in just a t-shirt and the evenings stay light long past 8pm. I love to eat outside when the weather is like this and often make this as a midweek supper, foregoing a set table and propping the bowl up on my knees on the outdoor steps to enjoy with a glass of rosé. Try to look for good-quality chickpeas in a jar if you can. Their preserving stock is what brings the glossy soupiness to this, so make sure you don’t drain them. The quantities given below will serve two as the main event, or four when served with some other things.
Ingredients
Method
Heat a good glug of olive oil in a frying pan over a gentle heat. Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add the courgettes with a large pinch of sea salt and cook for 6–8 minutes or until softened enough that they are flopping and folding over themselves.
Pour the chickpeas into the pan along with their liquid from the jar, scatter in the Grana Padano or Parmesan and cook for about 5 minutes or until the chickpeas have warmed through and the sauce has thickened and emulsified slightly. Switch off the heat. Stir through the lemon zest, just a squeeze of lemon juice and the chopped mint, along with another good pinch of salt. Taste to check the seasoning, adjusting as needed. Drizzle over more olive oil and finish with some freshly cracked black pepper.
Divide the courgette and chickpea mixture between bowls and serve with a spoonful of crème fraîche, natural yogurt or ricotta, if you like.
Reviews
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