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Mâncare de dovlecei
Mâncare de dovlecei: Romanian courgettes stewed soft with onion, tomato and dill
In Romanian homes, from Moldova to Oltenia, mâncare de dovlecei is the summer stew made when the garden is full of courgettes, and it fills a pot on fasting days when Orthodox families eat no animal products. Courgettes are cooked down slowly with onion, peppers and tomato until soft and sweet, then finished with a fistful of dill and garlic. Eat it warm or at room temperature with bread or a slice of mămăligă. The usual mistake is adding too much liquid: courgettes release their own water, and a watery pot loses its flavour. Chef's tip: let the onion and pepper soften properly before the courgettes go in; that sweetness is what seasons the whole stew.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 onionchopped
- 1 red pepperdiced
- 2 lb courgettescut into 2 cm chunks
- 3 tomatoeschopped (or 400 g tinned chopped tomatoes)
- 1 tbsp tomato purée
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 cloves garliccrushed
- ⅔ oz fresh dillchopped
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Heat 3 tbsp sunflower oil in a wide pot over a medium heat and cook 1 onion and 1 red pepper for 8 minutes until soft and sweet.
8 minStep 2: Add 2 lb courgettes, 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper, cover and cook for 8 minutes, stirring once, until they start to release their juices.
8 minStep 3: Stir in 3 tomatoes and 1 tbsp tomato purée and simmer uncovered for 12–15 minutes, until the courgettes are soft but still hold their shape and the sauce is thick.
15 minStep 4: Stir in 2 cloves garlic and ⅔ oz fresh dill, cook 1 minute more, then rest for 5 minutes before serving.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 140 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 13 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mâncare de dovlecei take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of red pepper?
- Any colour of bell pepper, same amount.
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