Recipe of the month... from Heathcotes

Deep Fried Courgette Fritters with Tartare Sauce

Time to finish - approx 40 minutes

Courgettes or Zucchini are one of those wonderful vegetables that many seem to have difficulty using. Ratatouille, a casserole of aubergines, peppers, tomatoes & courgettes is known to most, but courgettes fried with onions, garlic & a little oregano can be wonderfully simple.

Heathcote's favourite is deep fried courgette fritters and served with a dip, garlic mayonnaise, chilli jam, or in this case with fantastic tartare sauce. It is worth the effort &
much better than the pre-made jars. As a chef’s tip it is worth blanching the onion by pouring over a little boiling water from the kettle & leave to stand for a minute. This will help take out that raw acidity that can sometimes be overpowering.

What you need

4 courgettes
75g plain flour
Dessertspoon cornflour
Sea Salt & freshly milled pepper
2 eggs
75ml milk

Deep fat fryer set at 350 degrees

What you do

1. Slice the courgettes on an angle about 1cm thick.

2. Meanwhile mix the flour & cornflour together & season with sea salt & freshly milled pepper, & turn out onto a large flat plate.

3. Whisk the eggs & milk in a bowl & drop in the courgettes, toss well before picking out with one hand the courgette & dropping onto the flour. With the other hand turn over & pat well to remove any excess.

4. Reserve to one side & repeat until all the courgettes are floured.

5. Deep fry about ten pieces at a time until all are brown for about four minutes. Serve with the tartare sauce.

For the Tartare Sauce - What you need

1/4 small onion finely chopped
100ml good mayonnaise
2 gherkins finely chopped
12 capers well chopped
2 teaspoons chopped parsley

What you do

1. Place the onion in a bowl & pour over a little boiling water & leave for two minutes. Meanwhile mix the remaining ingredients together well.

2. Pass the onion through a sieve & run under cold water, pat dry with kitchen cloth before stirring into the mayonnaise mix & serving.

Have fun & do let us know how you get on! blog@busygirlsguide.co.uk

Best wishes,

Heathcotes Restaurant Group
Busy Girls Guide
Manchester & Cheshire