Courgette Ravioli

Revisiting family favourites

I’ve been revisiting recipes that have been some of my old school recipes and family favourites that were our staples when we got started as clean eaters. I first posted this recipe in 2018; at that time, the kids were fussy, vegetables had to be hidden and disguised, and there was no potential for intense flavours or spice. 

Times (thankfully) have changed, the kids have grown (like man-sized grown), and they now enjoy a wide range of foods. Things like vegetables are enjoyed, spice and chilli are consumed without complaint, and new ingredients are tried without tantrums.

As the kids have grown, they have started to enjoy recipes that they previously turned their noses up at; this is one of those recipes.

Impasta 

Pasta is amazing, it tastes great, but it does come with some unpleasant side effects thanks to the carb overload. If you love ravioli but don’t like all the wheat and carbs that come along with it, you can give this a go. This impasta courgette ravioli takes a little time to make, but it is more than worth the effort.

Freezer meal

Hands up if you are busy. Who is way too tired to get in the kitchen to cook at the end of the day? Definitely not me.

My days are filled with meetings, to-do lists, emails and telling people what to do; by the time I finish work, the last thing I want to do is get stuck into cooking a meal and then cleaning up afterwards. I want to work out and spend some time with Jaime. That is why freezer meals are my favourite solutions to the challenge of a busy life. A few hours on the weekend, and you find yourself with a stack of options for dinner that can be thawed and cooked for a healthy, delicious meal for the family.

Courgette ravioli recipe

Ingredients

  • 4 courgette
  • 300g chicken mince
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 3 shallots, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 200g mushrooms diced
  • 6 slices of prosciutto
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp. chicken seasoning
Take a large frying pan
Take a large frying pan
Fry off the chicken mince, garlic powder and chicken seasoning
Fry off the chicken mince, garlic powder and chicken seasoning
As the meat cooks break it up.
As the meat cooks break it up.
As the meat cooks break it up.
As the meat cooks break it up.
When the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pan.
When the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pan.
Sauté the shallots and garlic cloves over a medium heat until the shallots soften.
Sauté the shallots and garlic cloves over a medium heat until the shallots soften.
Add the mushrooms.
Add the mushrooms.
Let the mushrooms and shallots soften.
Let the mushrooms and shallots soften.
When the shallots are cooked, add them to the bowl with the chicken.
When the shallots are cooked, add them to the bowl with the chicken.
Chicken, mushrooms and shallots.
Chicken, mushrooms and shallots.
Fry off the prosciutto.
Fry off the prosciutto.
When the chicken is crispy move it to the bowl with the chicken.
When the chicken is crispy move it to the bowl with the chicken.
Add the prosciutto to the chicken.
Add the prosciutto to the chicken.
Mix well.
Mix well.
Use a mandolin to slice the courgettes into long ribbons.
Use a mandolin to slice the courgettes into long ribbons.
Lay down four courgette ribbons in the shape of a cross, create a weave with the ribbons. Spoon the filling into the centre of the courgettes.
Lay down two courgette ribbons in the shape of a cross. Spoon the filling into the centre of the courgettes.
Fold the ends of the courgette up to cover the filling.
Fold the ends of the courgette up to cover the filling.
You will need to use a toothpick to secure the ends of the courgette and keep the ravioli closed.
You will need to use a toothpick to secure the ends of the courgette and keep the ravioli closed.
Repeat with the remaining filling.
Repeat with the remaining filling.
Place the ravioli on a baking tray lined with baking paper or a silicone liner.
Place the ravioli on a baking tray lined with baking paper or a silicone liner.
Bake the ravioli for 20-25 minutes at 200 degrees C/ 400 degrees F.
Bake the ravioli for 20-25 minutes at 200 degrees C/ 400 degrees F.
Remove the picks
Courgette ravioli with cauliflower sauce
Courgette ravioli with cauliflower sauce

Courgette ravioli

  • Servings: 8
  • Rating: ★★★★★
  • Print

If you love ravioli but don't like all the wheat and carbs that come along with it, you can give this a go. This impasta courgette ravioli takes a little time to make but it is more than worth the effort.



Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 4 courgette
  • 300g chicken mince
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 3 shallots, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 200g mushrooms diced
  • 6 slices of prosciutto
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp. chicken seasoning

Directions

  1. In a large frying pan fry off the chicken mince, garlic powder and chicken seasoning in the olive oil over a medium heat.
  2. When the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pan.
  3. Put the chicken in a bowl then set it aside.
  4. Sauté the shallots and garlic cloves over a medium heat until the shallots soften.
  5. Add the mushrooms.
  6. When the shallots are cooked, add them to the bowl with the chicken.
  7. Cut the prosciutto slices into cubes.
  8. Fry off the prosciutto until it becomes crispy, when it is cooked add it to the chicken.
  9. Mix the chicken, shallots, garlic and prosciutto together in the bowl.
  10. Split the mixture in half.
  11. Blend half of the mixture in a food processor, you want it to have a paste consistency.
  12. Add the paste mixture back to the rest of the chicken mixture and mix it everything together. 
  13. It should be a very sticky mixture.
  14. Use a mandolin to slice the courgettes into long ribbons.
  15. Lay down two courgette ribbons in the shape of a cross.
  16. Spoon the filling into the centre of the courgettes.
  17. The amount of filling will depend on how large the courgette ribbons are.
  18. Fold the ends of the courgette up to cover the filling; you will need to use a toothpick to secure the ends of the courgette and keep the ravioli closed.
  19. Place the ravioli on a baking tray lined with baking paper or a silicone liner.
  20. Bake the ravioli for 20-25 minutes at 200 degrees C/ 400 degrees F.
  21. Serve with cauliflower sauce.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 193 calories; 12 g fat; 6 g carbohydrates; 14 g protein

Equipment

  • Frying pan
  • Wooden spoon
  • Knife
  • Chopping board
  • Scales
  • Measuring spoons
  • Mandolin or vegetable peeler 
  • Mixing bowl
  • Food processor
  • Spoon
  • Baking tray
  • Baking paper or a silicone liner

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.


Bacon and sweet potato salad

Revisiting family favourites

I’ve been revisiting recipes that have been some of my old school recipes and family favourites that were our staples when we got started as clean eaters. I first posted this recipe in 2015, at that time, the kids were fussy, vegetables had to be hidden and disguised, and there was no potential for intense flavours or spice. 

Times (thankfully) have changed, the kids have grown (like man-sized grown), and they now enjoy a wide range of foods. Things like vegetables are enjoyed, spice and chilli are consumed without complaint, and new ingredients are tried without tantrums.

As the kids have grown my recipes have changes organically to meet their palates and preferences, I’ve updated this recipe because of that, but fear not, all I have done is make it a little bit better.

Post workout meal

This salad is one of my favourite post-workout meals. When it is going to be a max effort kind of week I like to have a batch of this salad waiting for me.  This salad is quick to make which makes it perfect for a weeknight or even lunchtime salad. The hardest part is not eating the bacon before the sweet potatoes have cooled down. It’s also perfect for using up your left-over chicken (if you ever have any).

Bacon and sweet potato salad recipe

Ingredients

  • 250g bacon
  • 500g chicken breast, cooked and cubed
  • 1kg sweet potatoes, cut into cubes
  • 4 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 tbsp. coconut oil
  • juice of 1 lime
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
  • 2 spring onions, chopped
  • dash of red chilli flakes
  • dash of ground cinnamon
  • salt and pepper, to taste
easycleaneatsnz

Bacon and sweet potato salad

  • Servings: 6
  • Rating: ★★★★★
  • Print

Easily my favourite post workout meal, spicy chicken, tangy sweet potatoes and bacon all in one bowl.



Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 250g bacon
  • 500g chicken breast, cooked and cubed
  • 1kg sweet potatoes, cut into cubes
  • 4 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 tbsp. coconut oil
  • juice of 1 lime
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
  • 2 spring onions, chopped
  • dash of red chilli flakes
  • dash of ground cinnamon
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C/ 375 degrees F.
  2. Line a baking tray with baking paper or a silicone liner and lay the bacon flat on the sheet.
  3. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the bacon, is slightly crispy.
  4. Let the bacon cool then roughly chop.
  5. In a roasting pan, toss the sweet potatoes and garlic in coconut oil.
  6. Roast the sweet potatoes for about 30 minutes or until they are tender and brown.
  7. In a large bowl whisk the lime juice, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.
  8. Add in spring onions, red chilli flakes, ground cinnamon, and salt and pepper and mix well.
  9. Add the bacon and chicken to the bowl with the dressing.
  10. Once sweet potatoes are finished cooking, toss them together with the chicken, dressing, and bacon.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 368 calories; 13 g fat; 37 g carbohydrates; 23 g protein

Equipment

  • Knife
  • Chopping board
  • Baking tray
  • Baking paper or silicone liner 
  • Roasting pan
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Large mixing bowl

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.