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Garlic Griddled Courgettes with Fresh Tomatoes and Parsley

Thick courgette rounds charred on a griddle pan and piled onto sliced fresh tomatoes with a lemon and garlic dressing and parsley. A light vegan snack that is low in carbohydrate.

Snack

25

Serves 2

Thick rounds of chargrilled courgette with dark griddle marks on a bed of sliced fresh tomato, scattered with parsley, black pepper and garlic cloves on a white plate

Ingredients

  • 2 medium courgettes (zucchini, about 400g/14oz), cut into 1.5cm/⅝in thick rounds
  • 1 tbsp (15ml) extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1 small garlic clove, finely chopped
  • 2 tsp (10ml) lemon juice
  • 2 medium tomatoes (about 240g/8½oz), cut into thin wedges
  • A small bunch of flat-leaf parsley (about 10g), leaves picked and roughly chopped
  • A pinch of salt and black pepper

Method

  1. Heat a griddle pan or heavy frying pan (skillet) over a high heat for about 5 minutes, until very hot. Toss the courgette rounds with 2 tsp of the oil.
  2. Griddle the courgettes in two batches for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, until charred with dark lines and just tender in the middle when pierced with a knife. Move the first batch to a plate while you cook the second.
  3. Meanwhile, mix the garlic with the lemon juice, the remaining 1 tsp oil and a pinch of salt and pepper.
  4. Arrange the tomatoes on a plate, pile the warm courgettes on top and spoon over the dressing. Scatter with the parsley and some black pepper. Eat warm or at room temperature; leftovers keep covered in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Why it works

A plate gives you about 4g of protein and 4g of fibre for 133 calories, with 9g of carbohydrate.

A very hot pan. Heat the griddle until it is smoking hot and do not move the courgettes once they are in. That gives dark char lines and a smoky flavour; a pan that is not hot enough steams them instead and they turn soft and watery.

Why it is tagged for blood sugar. With only 9g of carbohydrate and healthy fat from extra virgin olive oil, this snack has little effect on blood sugar.

A lighter snack. Courgettes and tomatoes are mostly water, so this plate fills you up for few calories. It also works as a side dish with grilled fish or chicken.

Free from gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts, peanuts, soya and sesame as written. For a raw courgette dish, try the courgette carpaccio with crispy chilli chickpeas.