Courgette Balls Recipes

Steps:

• Cut off the bottoms of each zucchini and use a cheese grater or box grater to shred into a large bowl. Sprinkle salt on top, toss, and let rest in a colander in the sink for 20 minutes to pull out excess moisture.
• Preheat the oven to 375˚F (190˚C).
• Using a dish towel, squeeze out excess liquid from the shredded zucchini. Move the zucchini to a dry bowl and add the egg, ricotta bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, basil, parsley, pepper, olive oil, onion, and garlic. Stir until evenly mixed, then form the mixture into golf ball-sized balls.
• Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until browned, flipping halfway through.
• Serve over pasta with marinara sauce.
• Enoy!

Steps:

• Grate the courgettes and place in a colander, sprinkle with the salt and leave to seep for 30 minutes or more.
• Place the courgette in a clean tea towel and wring out every possible drop (this is easier with an assistant).
• Add the remaining ingredients, leaving out the flour and oil.
• If the mixture is too runny add more breadcrumbs or a few tablespoons of flour.
• Roll the mixture into small balls, roll in the flour and place on a plate.
• Chill for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.
• When ready, shallow fry in hot oil until crispy.
• Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the mince in a bowl, season well and add the crushed garlic. Mix together with your hands, then shape into small meatballs - roughly the size of a cherry tomato. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large frying pan, add the meatballs and fry for 10-15 mins until golden brown. Meanwhile, tip the tomatoes into a roasting tin with the whole garlic cloves and the remaining oil. Season and roll around the tin until well coated in oil, then roast for 15 mins.
• While the meatballs and tomatoes cook, use a spiralizer - I used the finer noodle attachment - or a julienne peeler to create courgette noodles. Once cooked, tip the meatballs into the roasting tin with the tomatoes, fish out the garlic and set aside, then cover the tin with foil to keep warm.
• Wash the frying pan. Heat another 1 tbsp oil in the pan, squeeze the garlic cloves from their skins into the pan and mash with a fork. When sizzling, add the crème fraîche, lemon zest and some seasoning. Add the courgetti and toss in the pan for 30 secs until warmed through - any longer and it will wilt. Remove the pan from the heat, and tip in the meatballs, tomatoes and any juices from the tin. Toss together and scatter with pine nuts, basil and Parmesan, if you like.