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Courgette Carpaccio with Basil, Lemon and Crispy Chilli Chickpeas

Thinly sliced raw courgettes dressed with lemon and olive oil, topped with crunchy smoked paprika and chilli chickpeas and fresh basil. A vegan lunch ready in 15 minutes.

Lunch

15

Serves 2

A white plate of thin raw courgette rounds dressed with olive oil and lemon, scattered with fresh basil leaves and crispy red chilli chickpea crumbs, on patterned tiles

Ingredients

  • 2 small courgettes (zucchini, about 400g/14oz), very thinly sliced
  • 1 x 400g (14oz) tin chickpeas, drained, rinsed and patted dry (about 240g/8½oz drained)
  • 3 tbsp (45ml) extra virgin olive oil: 1 tbsp for frying, 2 tbsp for the dressing
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika, ¼ tsp chilli flakes (½ tsp for more heat) and 2 pinches of salt
  • 1 small clove garlic (about 4g), crushed
  • Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tbsp/30ml juice)
  • A small bunch of basil (about 10g), leaves picked

Method

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large frying pan (skillet) over a medium-high heat. Add the chickpeas and fry for 8 to 10 minutes, shaking the pan often, until golden and crisp. Take off the heat, stir in the smoked paprika, chilli flakes, garlic and a pinch of salt, then lightly crush about half of them with a fork to make crumbs.
  2. Meanwhile, wash the courgettes and slice them as thinly as you can, using a mandoline (with its guard) or a sharp knife, and arrange them on two plates.
  3. Whisk the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil with the lemon zest, lemon juice and a pinch of salt and spoon over the courgettes.
  4. Scatter with the warm chickpeas and basil and serve straight away, while the chickpeas are crisp.
  5. Best eaten fresh. The fried chickpeas keep in an airtight container for 1 day but soften; re-crisp them in a dry pan.

Why it works

A plate gives you about 12g of protein and 10g of fibre for 393 calories, with 26g of carbohydrate.

Raw courgette. Sliced thinly enough, raw courgette is crisp and mild and soaks up the lemon dressing. Use small, firm courgettes, which are sweeter. If a courgette tastes very bitter, do not eat it, as bitterness can signal high levels of natural toxins called cucurbitacins, which can cause severe stomach upset.

Crispy chickpeas. Frying chickpeas in a little oil until golden turns them crunchy and adds protein and fibre, so this light salad works as a filling lunch.

Why it is tagged for blood sugar. With only 26g of carbohydrate and plenty of fibre and healthy fat from extra virgin olive oil, this salad is less likely to cause a sharp rise in blood sugar.

Free from gluten, dairy, nuts, soya and sesame as written. For a baked chickpea snack, try the smoky roasted chickpeas.