Name: Stuffed young courgette
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 small courgette, 12 to 15cm long, 4cm thick; 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil; 12 crimini mushrooms, chopped; 1 small to medium yellow onion, chopped; 3 to 4 cloves garlic, grated or chopped; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; 2 vine ripe tomatoes or Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped; 2 slices white toasting bread; Softened butter; A small handful flat-leaf parsley; A few sprigs fresh tarragon or a small handful basil leaves; 75g shredded Parmigiano Reggiano; 1 egg, beaten

1) Heat the oven to 210C/Gas 7.

2) Halve 4 of the small courgette lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and soft centre flesh with a spoon to produce a set of shallow shells to hold the stuffing. Reserve the centre flesh. Arrange the small hulls in a baking dish. Drizzle with a little extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Chop the reserved courgette flesh and set aside.

3) Heat the remaining extra-virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and saute the mushrooms, onions and garlic for 5 mins. Add in the reserved courgette and tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, to taste and heat through for 1 min, then remove from the heat.

4) While the veggies cook, toast the bread in a toaster, then spread liberally with butter and tear into pieces. Add the bread to a food processor along with the parsley and tarragon or basil, and pulse into herb crumbs.

5) Fold the herb crumbs into the veggies along with 50g Parmesan and the egg. Mound the courgette stuffing in to the shells and roast for 15 mins. Remove from the oven, sprinkle the tops with remaining cheese and place under grill for 2 to 3 mins to brown.