Chargrilled courgette with basil, mint, chilli and lemon

Ingredients

• 6 courgettes, ends trimmed, cut into long strips
• 1-2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for dressing
• 1 fresh red chilli, seeded, finely chopped (or 5 tsp dried chilli flakes)
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• ½ lemon, juice only
• handful fresh mint, roughly chopped
• handful fresh basil, roughly chopped

Method

1. Toss the courgette strips in a bowl with the olive oil (just enough to coat the courgette), chilli, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

2. Heat a ridged grill pan until smoking hot and griddle the courgettes in batches, about four minutes per side, being careful not to crowd the grill pan. They should be tender, but with a crunch to them in the middle. If the strips are not quite cooked, leave them on the grill pan for longer, but watch the heat as you don't want them to burn. Don't be tempted to move the courgette while it is cooking or you won't get the chargrill marks across the flesh. Drain on kitchen paper.

3. Toss the griddled courgettes in the lemon juice, mint, basil and a good slug of your best extra virgin olive oil.