Baked courgette & tomato gratin

Course: Main

Serves: 2-4

Cooks in: Preparation Time: 20 mins, Cooking Time: 50 mins

Difficulty: Easy

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Ingredients

2 medium courgettes
1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for the dish and for drizzling
400g can chopped tomatoes, blitzed in a food processor
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
handful of fresh basil (optional)
50g polenta or semolina flour
50g plain flour
1 large egg, beaten
1 ball of mozzarella, sliced (225g)
10g parmesan or vegetarian alternative, grated
50g breadcrumbs

Method

1 Slice the courgettes lengthways (about 1/2cm thick), then sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt flakes and lay them on a plate with another plate on top. Put a weight or tin on top to help push out the liquid.

2 Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a non-stick frying pan and add the tomatoes and garlic. Cook over a medium heat (stirring), for 5 mins until thickened. Tear in the basil, if using and season.

3 Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6 and oil a roasting dish. Combine the flours in a bowl. Pour away the water from the courgette. Dip the courgette slices into the egg, then into the flour and arrange in a layer over the bottom of the dish. Top with a few slices of mozzarella, followed by a layer of the tomato sauce and repeat with another layer of courgette, mozzarella and sauce. Toss the cheese and breadcrumbs together, then scatter over the top.

4 Drizzle with a little more olive oil, and bake for 40-45 mins until golden and bubbling. Serve with a herby red onion salad and some bread to mop it up, if you like.

Can be frozen for up to two months.