Blanched Courgette & Tomato With Date, Lemon & Garlic Oil

Blanched Courgette & Tomato with Date, Lemon & Garlic Oil

Serves 2-4
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 5 mins

Ingredients

400-500g Courgette
400-500g Tomato
8-10 Dates
1 Lemon
1/2 clove Garlic
2 tbsp Nutritional Yeast
3 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Black Pepper
1/2 tsp Chilli Flakes
4 tbsp Seeds (I used hemp)

If you don't like the taste of raw garlic, this can be replaced with finely diced shallots or spring onions.


Method

1. First, ahead of time, make some ice.
2. To make the dressing; mince the garlic, de-stone & finely slice the dates, zest & juice the lemon. Add the garlic, dates, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, pepper, chilli, nutritional yeast and olive oil to a bowl & whisk well. (Allowing the dressing to sit for at least 10 mins will help the flavours combine & mellow!)
3. Use a mandolin to slice the courgette into rounds approx. 2-3mm thick.
4. Take the ice from the freezer & place in a large bowl with cold water. Set aside.
5. Bring a large pan of heavily salted water to boil. Add the courgette slices & (whole) tomatoes. Simmer for 2 mins.
6. Drain the courgette & tomatoes in a colander, then immediately plunge into the bowl of ice-cold water. Leave until chilled.
7. Remove the tomatoes, peel off the skins, & finely dice/chop into a textured pulp. (If the tomatoes are very watery, drain off some of the liquid. To reduce waste, you can freeze it to add to soups, stews, ragouts, curries etc! )
8. Drain the courgette & then use your hands to squeeze out excess water. Pat dry with a clean towel.
9. Finally, toast the seeds. Set a frying pan to medium heat, add the seeds, then cook for 3-4 minutes, tossing occasionally. The seeds will turn golden and release a nutty aroma.
10. To serve, combine the courgette, tomatoes & dressing, & top with the toasted seeds.

Delicious eaten with toasted crusty bread or buttered new potatoes.

If you want to add protein & fibre, a jar of butterbeans is a tasty addition.

@Greenhouse.Plant.Based.Dining