Cabbage-stuffed courgettes

Cabbage-stuffed courgettes are not stuffed only with cabbage, they've also got leeks, red pepper and onion in them. The cabbage stuffing can be served as a side vegetable in its own right - so this is really two recipes in one!

📝 Ingredients

• 2 8-inch long courgettes (500 grams or 17 ounces approximately)
• 1 cup cabbage (shredded)
• 1 cup leeks (sliced into thin semi-circles)
• 1/2 cup onion (finely diced)
• 1/2 cup red pepper (capsicum) (finely diced)
• 1 medium tomato (diced)
• 1 tablespoon sunflower oil
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds (optional)
• 2 ounces / 60 grams butter
• 1/2 cup grated cheese
• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- Preparation ---
2. 2Cut the leeks in half down the length and then slice them into narrow semi-circles.Cut the cabbage into narrow strips.Peel the onion and cut it into a fine dice.Remove the seeds and membrane from the red pepper and cut it into a fine dice.Cut the tomato into a small dice.
3. 3--- Cabbage stuffing ---
4. 4Melt the butter in a saute pan and fry the onions and red pepper gently for about 5 minutes until they start to soften.
5. 5Add the mustard seeds, leeks, cabbage and tomato to the pan with the onions. Season with salt and black pepper to taste and add 2 tablespoons of water.
6. 6Cover the pan with a lid and turn the heat down to a simmer.
7. 7Cook the vegetables gently for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are softened. If the vegetables are not soft enough after 15 minutes, leave them a few minutes longer but bear in mind they will continue to cook once they are in the oven.
8. 8Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary. Set aside to cool while you prepare the courgettes.
9. 9--- Prepare the courgettes ---
10. 10Preheat the oven to 200°C / 400°F
11. 11Remove the top and bottom from the courgette and slice it in half from top to bottom
12. 12Remove the seeds, leaving about one-quarter of an inch of flesh all around.
13. 13Brush the outside of each courgette lightly with oil.
14. 14Arrange the courgettes into a suitably-sized baking dish and sprinkle them lightly with salt.
15. 15Divide the stuffing between the courgettes.
16. 16Mix the grated cheese with the breadcrumbs and sprinkle over the courgettes.
17. 17Cover the dish with a lid or a sheet of tinfoil.
18. 18--- Bake ---
19. 19Place the covered dish into a preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes.
20. 20Remove the lid and leave the courgetttes in the oven for a further 5 minutes to give the cheese time to turn brown.
21. 21Remove from the oven and serve immediately.