Zucchine alla scapece (marinated courgettes)

Lifestyle Recipes Everyday Zucchine alla scapece (marinated courgettes) A flavour-packed way to use up a glut of courgettes Save Comment speech bubble icon Gift this article free Gift article Give full access to this article, free time. You have 15 articles left to gift, this month. Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Diana Henry The Telegraph's award-winning cookery writer Show biography Diana Henry shares recipes for everything from speedy family dinners to special menus that friends will remember for months. Her journalism and recipe books, including Simple and How to Eat a Peach, are multi-award-winning. A mother of two sons, Diana can satisfy even the fussiest of eaters. Click here to sign up to receive Diana's Recipes Newsletter – featuring a weekly meal planner – every Saturday.  Published 17 July 2026 12:42pm BST Save Comment speech bubble icon Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Gift this article free Gift article Give full access to this article, free time. You have 15 articles left to gift, this month. Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source A delicious five-ingredient sharing dish Credit: Haarala Hamilton and Valerie Berry Diana Henry The Telegraph's award-winning cookery writer Show biography Diana Henry shares recipes for everything from speedy family dinners to special menus that friends will remember for months. Her journalism and recipe books, including Simple and How to Eat a Peach, are multi-award-winning. A mother of two sons, Diana can satisfy even the fussiest of eaters. Click here to sign up to receive Diana's Recipes Newsletter – featuring a weekly meal planner – every Saturday.  Published 17 July 2026 12:42pm BST Meaning courgettes in the ‘escabeche’ style. The term is borrowed from the Spanish and is used to describe a dish – usually fish – that has been marinated in an acidic liquid. Done well, this is scented and oily, hot and fresh. Requires drying and resting time Overview Prep time 10 mins Cook time 20 mins Serves 4 as part of a spread Ingredients 4-6 medium-sized courgettes 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, or as needed 2 garlic cloves, finely sliced 2 tbsp white-wine vinegar leaves from 15g mint, torn 1-2 dried chillies, crumbled Method Step Cut 4-6 medium-sized courgettes into rounds about the thickness of a pound coin.  Step Spread them out on a couple of tea towels and put them somewhere warm for about 40 minutes – outside in the sun is ideal. This just dries them out a little. Step Spread a double layer of kitchen paper out near your hob. Step Heat 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil in a large frying pan and cook the courgettes, in batches, over a medium heat, until golden on both sides. As you cook, add more oil and transfer the courgettes to the paper towels when they’re done. Step When all the courgettes are cooked, add 2 finely sliced garlic cloves to the pan (with a little more oil if needed) and sauté until pale gold. Be careful as garlic can suddenly go from pale gold to brown. Step Mix 2 tbsp white-wine vinegar with 2 tbsp water.  Step Layer the courgettes in a serving dish, seasoning with salt and pepper as you go, adding 15g torn mint leaves, 1-2 crumbled chillies, and the oil and garlic from the pan.  Step Spoon the vinegar mixture over each layer (you don’t have to use all of it). When it’s all done, you should have used all the oil in the pan. Add a little more extra-virgin olive oil if you think the dish needs it and check the seasoning. Step Leave to sit for a couple of hours before serving – the ingredients really meld during this time.  Step You can also cover the dish and keep it in the fridge – it’s fine for a couple of days – but let it come to room temperature before you serve it. Join the conversation Show comments The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. Please review our commenting policy. Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. Please review our commenting policy. Related Topics Vegetarian recipes, Italian recipes, Starter recipes, Side dish recipes, Courgette recipes, Chilli recipes License this content You need to be a subscriber to join the conversation. Find out more here. Log In Subscribe Advertisement More Stories