Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[redhotchick]

If you like spicy thai food, you might like this. It is a version of Som Tam, using courgettes instead of green papaya!

Another recipe in the war against the courgette glut! I use a julienne cutter to make courgette strips. Do enough to fill a plastic tub. I make a simple spicy dressing as follows, but you could google all the different som tam recipes and see how they vary.

I clove of garlic

A small red chilli

A small teaspoon of soft Demerara sugar (I've never used palm sugar, but if you have it to hand I guess it would be ideal!)

Mash these together using a pestle and mortar (or a blender of some sort? If you are going to do this you might want to add the liquids to help blend it)

The juice of half a lime

A teaspoon of fish sauce

 

Pour the dressing over the courgette strips and leave to marinade, in the tub, shake it up a bit. You can eat it straight away but the courgette softens a bit if you can leave it. I made it tonight, for lunch tomorrow.

[Daphne]

Sounds delicious - what a good idea Can I ask, what julienne cutter do you use, I can't find one which suits me - the last one OH bought is excellent at julienning me

[kinsk]

Will be giving that one a go.

 

I got my julienne cutter from lakeland and so far (touch wood) haven't shredded myself!

 

I've started shredding courgettes and using the strips in place of spaghetti, raw but tossed in with the sauce whilst hot.

[redhotchick]

Hi Daphne, I can't remember where I got my Julienne cutter from. I'm sorry!

I have looked at the Lakeland one though and it is similar to mine. If I am doing courgette or carrot I put it flat on the work surface and hold one end, then strip away from where my fingers are, I use the ends for soup or composting! If it is something like a small potato that I want to hold in my hand, I wrap my hand in a tea towel.

I don't own one and haven't tried it, but this one looks good.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zyliss-Smart-Gourmet-Mandoline-Julienne/dp/B005VNMGZS

[Daphne]

Thanks both - I'm going to give the Lakeland one a try, we have something that looks like that Zyliss one and I just don't get on with it. Its a bit like the super sharp microblade grater OH came home with once - I took one look and refused to use it Since then I'm sure we've had several dishes garnished with human