ALL ABOUT COURGETTES
Fruit and vegetables
Courgettes are known as zucchini on the other side of the pond (otherwise known as America).
They are a type of summer squash which are known for their soft skins. Winter squashes, such as butternut squash, have hard skins.
They're from the cucurbit family, along with cucumbers and melon.
WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?
In season in the UK: June to September
Courgettes are in season in the UK between June and September.
They have dark green soft skin with firm pale flesh, but there are other varieties with yellow skin. Many grow close together like a bush, but others spread out on a vine. They even have flowers that you can stuff and eat!
When courgettes grow really big, sometimes people call them a marrow. Marrows are actually a different variety of vegetable, though. They appear similar, but marrows are naturally much larger and often have patterns on their skin.
WHAT POWERS DO COURGETTES GIVE YOU?
Rainbow Power Nutrition
Courgettes help you get better when you're ill, and make you feel awake, ready to learn and quick thinking.
Freshly harvested vegetables have the most nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. To get the most powers from courgettes, eat them soon after buying them. Make sure you remember, their skin is full of nutrients, so no need to peel them.
BUYING AND STORING COURGETTES
How to get the best courgettes
Choose small courgettes that are firm to the touch with glossy, undamaged skin. Soft squishy courgettes should be avoided.
Store courgettes in a sealed bag in the fridge. Make sure they are dry, and keep them whole, as chopped vegetables don’t last as long.
HOW TO PREPARE COURGETTES
What you can do with them
When you want to eat them, give them a wash in water, then eat them raw, or cooked!
Chop off the stem at the end, then you can slice them in circles or lengthways, or have them grated, diced, in ribbons, spirals or chopped into sticks.
When cooking courgettes, try to chop them into equal sized pieces as this will make sure they cook evenly. The bigger the pieces, the longer they will take to cook.
WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH COURGETTES
How to cook them
Courgettes are very versatile, which means you can do lots of different things with them. They're also very quick and easy to cook. Be aware, boiling or steaming courgettes can make them mushy as they soak up water.
You can slice them thinly and eat raw, or fry, roast, marinade in flavours and BBQ, or griddle them until charred and soft. Great in a stir-fry, pasta sauce, added to cakes and even made into fritters.
Slice courgettes into chunks, and stir-fry in a hot pan with your favourite flavours for 3 to 5 minutes.
ALL ABOUT COURGETTES
Fruit and vegetables
Courgettes are known as zucchini on the other side of the pond (otherwise known as America).
They are a type of summer squash which are known for their soft skins. Winter squashes, such as butternut squash, have hard skins.
They're from the cucurbit family, along with cucumbers and melon.
WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?
In season in the UK: June to September
Courgettes are in season in the UK between June and September.
They have dark green soft skin with firm pale flesh, but there are other varieties with yellow skin. Many grow close together like a bush, but others spread out on a vine. They even have flowers that you can stuff and eat!
When courgettes grow really big, sometimes people call them a marrow. Marrows are actually a different variety of vegetable, though. They appear similar, but marrows are naturally much larger and often have patterns on their skin.
WHAT POWERS DO COURGETTES GIVE YOU?
Rainbow Power Nutrition
Courgettes help you get better when you're ill, and make you feel awake, ready to learn and quick thinking.
Freshly harvested vegetables have the most nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. To get the most powers from courgettes, eat them soon after buying them. Make sure you remember, their skin is full of nutrients, so no need to peel them.
BUYING AND STORING COURGETTES
How to get the best courgettes
Choose small courgettes that are firm to the touch with glossy, undamaged skin. Soft squishy courgettes should be avoided.
Store courgettes in a sealed bag in the fridge. Make sure they are dry, and keep them whole, as chopped vegetables don’t last as long.
HOW TO PREPARE COURGETTES
What you can do with them
When you want to eat them, give them a wash in water, then eat them raw, or cooked!
Chop off the stem at the end, then you can slice them in circles or lengthways, or have them grated, diced, in ribbons, spirals or chopped into sticks.
When cooking courgettes, try to chop them into equal sized pieces as this will make sure they cook evenly. The bigger the pieces, the longer they will take to cook.
WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH COURGETTES
How to cook them
Courgettes are very versatile, which means you can do lots of different things with them. They're also very quick and easy to cook. Be aware, boiling or steaming courgettes can make them mushy as they soak up water.
You can slice them thinly and eat raw, or fry, roast, marinade in flavours and BBQ, or griddle them until charred and soft. Great in a stir-fry, pasta sauce, added to cakes and even made into fritters.
Slice courgettes into chunks, and stir-fry in a hot pan with your favourite flavours for 3 to 5 minutes.