Alexandra Dudley's Soft Courgettes With Chickpeas, Lemon & Mint
Credit: Ola O. Smith
If there's one recipe that captures easy summer cooking, it's this. Taken from Alexandra Dudley's new cookbook Cooking Made Simple, these soft courgettes with chickpeas, lemon and mint are proof that a handful of simple ingredients can become something genuinely satisfying.
Creamy chickpeas, silky courgettes and plenty of fresh mint come together in one pan, while the chickpea cooking liquid creates a surprisingly rich, glossy sauce. Finished with a dollop of yoghurt or ricotta, it's the sort of effortless lunch or light supper you'll find yourself making on repeat throughout the warmer months.
Serves 2 as a main | Ready in 20 minutes
Ingredients
Olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 courgettes, thinly sliced
Coarse sea salt flakes
700g jar chickpeas, including the liquid
40g Grana Padano or Parmesan, finely grated
Zest of 1 unwaxed lemon
Juice of up to ½ lemon
Small bunch of fresh mint (around 25g), finely chopped
Freshly ground black pepper
Crème fraîche, natural yoghurt or ricotta, to serve (optional)
Method
Heat a generous drizzle of olive oil in a large frying pan over a gentle heat. Add the garlic and cook for around 2 minutes until fragrant.
Add the sliced courgettes along with a generous pinch of sea salt and cook for 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until completely softened.
Pour the chickpeas and all of their cooking liquid into the pan. Add the grated Parmesan and cook for around 5 minutes until the chickpeas are warmed through and the liquid has reduced slightly into a light, glossy sauce.
Remove from the heat and stir through the lemon zest, a squeeze of lemon juice and the chopped mint. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
Divide between bowls, drizzle with a little extra olive oil, finish with plenty of black pepper and add a spoonful of crème fraîche, yoghurt or ricotta if using.
Extract taken from Cooking Made Simple by Alexandra Dudley (Ebury Press, £28) available to buy now.
Cooking Made Simple by Alexandra Dudley
If weeknight cooking often feels like another job on the to-do list, Cooking Made Simple is the sort of cookbook you'll reach for again and again. Food writer Alexandra Dudley has created a collection of genuinely achievable recipes designed for busy lives, with simple ingredients, minimal washing up and maximum flavour.
From effortless midweek dinners to relaxed weekend lunches and easy entertaining, every recipe is designed to make cooking feel calmer, quicker and far more enjoyable.