Courgettes are one of summer's under-appreciated treasures. We're happy to sing the praises of peas, broad beans and other summer greens, and we go crazy for asparagus when the season begins in late spring, but courgettes get no such fanfare. Perhaps we're too used to seeing them on supermarket shelves all year round, or we have difficult childhood memories of overcooked ratatouille. Either way, it's about time courgettes are given the recognition they deserve as one of the UK's best seasonal vegetables.
Versatile and easy to cook, courgettes are at their best during the summer months, from June to September. Look for small, firm courgettes when you're out shopping – giant ones are great for competition growers, but smaller courgettes have better flavour.
As for cooking, courgettes are often best eaten raw, with a simple dressing of salt, lemon and olive oil. They can be lightly sautéed in butter or oil, steamed or roasted. In fact, they're incredibly versatile – as long as you don't boil them, you'll end up with something delicious. We've pulled together a few of our favourite courgette recipes from some fantastic chefs and food writers and listed them below – take a look!
