Courgette, or zucchini, is one of my favourite vegetables. I particularly love them in the summer when they grow beautifully here in the UK. 

I've collated some of my favourite courgette recipes here to share with you all. These recipes are all vegetarian or vegan. I've also included a few cooking tips to help you avoid soggy courgettes and end up with delicious results every time.

What's the best way to cook courgettes

Courgettes benefit from being roasted or fried - they're just too watery to handle being boiled.

Boiling courgettes just turns them mushy and soggy and that is never a good thing.

For the same reason if you're planning to bake a cake or some muffins with your courgettes it's advisable to squeeze some of the water out before adding to your batter.

My favourite way to cook courgettes is to thinly slice them and lightly sauté them in olive oil. When you add them to a summer salad, mix them in with pasta pesto or serve your sautéd courgettes as a side dish with lemon, parsley and pine nuts they really come into their own.

If you prefer you can roast your courgettes - this works well with other vegetables too. Aubergine, butternut squash and peppers complement them well. This delicious roasted vegetable pasta includes courgettes.

Do you need to peel courgettes?

No, courgettes don't need to be peeled. Simply cut off either end and thinly slice before cooking.

If your courgette has grown large and has a tougher skin then you've got a marrow. Find out what to do with marrow.

Other ways you can cook courgettes

• Stuffing them - I like the look of Felicity Cloake's vegetarian stuffed courgettes
• On the barbecue
• Make soup

What have I missed? Let me know your favourite courgette recipe in the comments below.

Can you eat courgette flowers?

Yes you can! Stuffed cooked courgette flowers are a delicious delicacy.

This recipe for stuffed courgette flowers from Demuths looks lovely. For a vegan version try this recipe by The Vegan Word.

Delicious courgette recipes for you to try

Here are my favourite courgette recipes - which will you try first? If you do try any of these recipes let me know on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Courgette and potato fritters (vegetarian)

Summer chickpea and courgette curry (vegan)

 

 

 

Courgette and lemon cake (vegan or vegetarian)

 

Courgette and potato soup (vegan)

Easy veggie pasta sauce with zoodles (courgette noodles) (vegan)

 

 

Chocolate courgette muffins (vegetarian)

 

Courgette polpette (vegetarian)

Courgette overnight oats with lemon and blueberry (vegan)

Banana and courgette buckwheat pancakes (vegetarian)

 

Stir fry with courgette noodles (vegan)

Pin my favourite courgette recipes for later