This courgette and Parmesan gratin is one of our favourite ways to use courgettes when they in season, cheap and plentiful.
Courgette season runs from June to September, and you can often find them on offer during this time, making this recipe really affordable - one of our best cheap family meals. Every parent knows the trials of getting little ones to eat their vegetables. But one sure fire way to help is knowing how to cook each vegetable in a multitude of ways. So if they sniff their nose up at boiled greens, this tasty recipe might just do the trick. Layers of sweet caramelised onions and soft, stock-soaked courgettes baked in the oven topped with gooey, melted cheese. We find even the pickiest eaters can be won over by this. It's also a great side dish to serve with a Sunday roast chicken, lamb or pork.
Ingredients
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced into half moons
- 2tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 4 courgettes, sliced on a diagonal
- 100g Parmesan, grated
- 250ml veg stock
WEIGHT CONVERTER
Method
- Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6. Fry the onion and garlic in 1tbsp of the olive oil in a frying pan on a low heat for 15mins until golden and caramelised. Set aside.
- Layer the courgette slices in a single layer of a buttered oven proof dish. Top with a layer of the cooked onions. Repeat layers, finishing with courgettes.
- Pour the stock over the vegetables and top with ¾ of the parmesan. Bake in oven for 20mins until golden and bubbling. Before serving, sprinkle the remaining grated parmesan over the top.
Top tip for making courgette and Parmesan gratin
If you’re not a fan of the tangy taste of Parmesan, then try any melting cheese, such as Gruyere, Cheddar or Swiss.
Octavia Lillywhite is an award-winning food and lifestyle journalist with over 15 years of experience. With a passion for creating beautiful, tasty family meals that don’t use hundreds of ingredients or anything you have to source from obscure websites, she’s a champion of local and seasonal foods, using up leftovers and composting, which, she maintains, is probably the most important thing we all can do to protect the environment.
-
Herby chicken with Romesco sauce
Herby chicken flavoured simply with oregano with a rich Romesco sauce - which makes a great dip.
By Jessica Ransom Published
-
Hairy Bikers' Thai chicken and coconut curry
This delicious Hairy Bikers' Thai chicken and coconut curry recipe takes a classic dish and reduces the calories to turn it into a healthy family meal
By Hairy Bikers Published
-
Tom Kerridge's crab mayo on griddled sourdough
Tom Kerridge's crab mayo on griddled sourdough is the perfect healthy recipe you can enjoy making and eating at home. It's so easy to make and looks impressive too.
By Tom Kerridge Published
-
Stuffed lamb shoulder with feta and apricot
Our stuffed lamb shoulder with feta and apricot is infused with lots of Middle Eastern flavours and it only takes 30 minutes of prep
By Rose Fooks Published
-
Stuffed spring leg of lamb with herby chutney
This stuffed spring leg of lamb with herby chutney is best made the night before so it can marinate and intensify in flavour.
By Jules Mercer Published
-
Easter coconut and lemon cake
This Easter coconut and lemon cake serves 12 and leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to three days.
By Jules Mercer Published
-
Kate Middleton has reportedly ‘FaceTimed’ her kids everyday while in hospital as Prince William holds down the fort at home
The Princess of Wales is recovering from surgery in The London Clinic
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
5 easy ways to let children take risks (without your anxiety going through the roof)
Here's why allowing children to put themselves in 'healthy' risk situations is actually good for them
By Selina Maycock Published
-
I’m a child psychologist - this 2-step technique will stop your kids answering back… and it sounds so easy
We've spoken to a child psychologist and parenting expert about how to handle kids who answer back, and she shared a simple two-step tip.
By Ellie Hutchings Published