The Tastiest Courgette Recipe To Try This Week

Courtesy of Nina Parker. Plus I try this season's rugby top (but I need your opinion!)

I adore @antoninaparker ‘s recipes. Like me, she is a lover of cheese, salty delicious crunchy toppings, just the right amount of spice and garlic (which means a lot!) with lashings of oil. I have used her cookbook ‘Saucy’ for years (the vegan green Thai curry is a favourite in our household) and my dad has even repurchased the chilli oil I got him for his birthday (and he never listens to my recommendations!).

I tried this recipe this week and it is SO good (I even made my own sundried tomato paste, which I used for meatballs for the kids later on in the week). Obviously, a love of courgettes is marginally required, but I don’t love tomatoes and devoured the entire thing. It’s that delicious.

Courgette Tomato Gratin, Mozzarella + Crispy Garlic Basil Oil

Nina’s way more professional pics

Nina’s note:

I think this is one of my favourite recipes to date!  It is perfect for September celebrating all the late summer veg.  You can use it for a dinner party or bring it for a picnic - it can be served hot or at room temperature.  It’s got that wow factor with the added toppings.  This made for an epic dinner and it’s pretty much a one tray recipe.  I used a variety of courgettes for colour.

Serves 4 as a greedy side

Ingredients:

4 tbsp extra virgin oil oil

3.5 medium courgettes, really thinly sliced (using a mandoline preferable but not essential)

2-3 large tomatoes, sliced 2cm thick

120g sun-dried tomato paste

1 tsp dried oregano

2 balls buffalo mozzarella

salt + pepper

Garlic Oil:

2 chunky garlic cloves, thinly sliced

40ml extra virgin oil oil

handful basil leaves

Use a large baking dish (around 30/40cm by 27cm). Preheat the oven to 190C (fan) degrees. 

Add 1 spoon of olive oil to the dish + spread the tomato paste in an even layer covering the bottom.  

Start to stack the two layers of courgettes upright in a line across the dish, followed by a layer of tomatoes.  Try to season with salt + pepper between the layers.  Continue adding layers of each until the dish is tightly packed. The veg will shrink when baking so it needs to be tight.  

My interpretation of the dish

Sprinkle over with oregano + cover with a layer of tin foil on top + bake in the middle of the oven for 25mins.  

Remove tin foil + drizzle over 2 spoons of olive oil.  Bake for another 20mins. The veg should be cooked by now.  Drizzle over with another spoon of olive oil + place under the hot grill for 5-10mins to char a little. 

While this cooks, set a small saucepan to a medium heat + add the olive oil + garlic for the oil.  Gently simmer for 3mins + remove from heat + add the basil leaves.  Simmer for 1 min before removing from the heat.

Serve with the mozzarella torn over + the oil drizzled over!

Please note: * means the item is an affiliate link which means if you purchase something, I might make a small commission.

After my 5 days of wearing series on Instagram, I’ve had so many questions about the Sezane knitted vest - I wear a size M. The beige is currently sold out but I usually share Sezane pieces as they are more likely to restock, plus they have launched a few other colourways. Looking for something more affordable? Alex Lunt shares her edit of the best on the High Street here.

I’m excited about Uniqlo’s* personalisation which has launched at the Re.Uniqlo Studios across 6 stores in the UK (4 in London, Manchester and Edinburgh). Prices start at £10 (they also offer mending and sashiko embroidery, too!) and would make a chic personal extra to a gift (I’ve earmarked it to add to colourful socks for family at christmas).

Obviously I will now be wearing my dressing gown consistently between the hours of 6:30pm and 8am until some time in May. My stripe version is Tekla which I got for my 40th birthday but I have seen so many great ones on the High Street this week (Next did actually have almost the exact one but only size S left here):

Green and white stripe: £80, La Redoute*

Navy and white stripes: £46, Next

Yellow and white stripes: £39.99, H&M*

If you like my edits, you can view more Fashion and Home Edits on my website

And finally, I purchased a rugby top from Vinted. I saw loads on Instagram and then bumped into @hazelgardiner wearing one in real life and it sealed the deal. I thought I’d look cool in one (after all, I am a self confessed stripe Queen) but I think I look a bit too at home in it. Like a Jilly Cooper mum of 4 dropping the kids to boarding school before a game of polo kinda thing. And it is supposed to be ironic. I think.

Worst case, I’ll look right at home wearing this to the allotment.

Here’s

Carolines Style Hacks

and Francesca Perks looking fab in theirs (so maybe I’ll persevere):

Thanks for reading and supporting, I’m still blown away by your support and how many of you read this newsletter! I usually like to hint at what’s coming up (as it holds me accountable to stick to these themes!), so this month I will be writing about ageing and how I think we really need to reclaim it, things I look forward to in winter and my actual, unedited thoughts (and regrets) about my manic hallway decor updates! Paid subscribers get extra, weekly, content (and a free meal planner when signing up) - either way, you’re great and I adore you!