Courgettes are versatile, tender and super easy to cook, and are at their best in the UK from June to September. They contain immune boosting vitamin C, as well as potassium which helps to control blood pressure and soluble fibre to support digestion. They’re delicious sliced and cooked on the grill or BBQ, then drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, herbs and crumbled feta. Here are 5 more ways to enjoy courgettes and some delicious flavour combo’s:

1. Fritters

This is one of our favourite ways to enjoy courgettes. You can combine grated courgette with halloumi and mint, or try sweetcorn and fresh dill, or for a Moroccan flavour use cumin and coriander, and serve with a chilli tomato salsa. Bake them in the oven or fry gently for a few minutes on each side to create a crispier fritter. You can serve them for breakfast with a poached egg, or for dinner with fresh greens and a lemon and garlic yogurt dip.

2. Courgetti

Replacing spaghetti or noodles with vegetable versions has become a popular way to eat more veg or for a lighter or lower carb meal. Courgette noodles or ‘courgetti’ has become the most popular but you can also use butternut squash noodles or ‘boodles’. You can buy courgetti from most supermarkets but it’s actually very easy to make at home using a spiralizer or julienne peeler, and tastes much fresher. Serve them cold in salads tossed with some lemon juice, thrown into stir-fry’s or soup, or topped with a pasta sauce.

3. Parmigiana

Parmigiana is a classic Italian dish usually made with aubergine and tomato. You can substitute the aubergine for courgette, and create a creamier dish made with ricotta, parmesan and mustard. Serve it as a centre piece with polenta and fresh greens, or as a side to meat or fish. You can also use courgette slices in replace of lasagne sheets for a lighter dish.

4. Spring salad

Courgette strips taste delicious in a salad. Use a peeler or thinly slice the courgette lengthways into ribbons. You can serve them raw or lightly fry them with lemon zest and garlic. They work well with new potatoes, tomato, grilled corn, feta, ricotta, parmesan, lemon, mint, basil and extra virgin olive oil.

5. Bread or cake

Not the healthiest way to enjoy courgettes but a good way to hide vegetables from the kids and show them how versatile veg can be. Due to their high water content courgettes help to add moisture to bread or cakes, and keep the mixture light. They work well in a light sponge cake with lemon and lime, in a chocolate cake, or in flavoured bread with cheese.