Too Many Courgettes? Four Cheese Recipes to Make the Most of a Summer Glut

If you've grown courgettes before, you'll know how quickly one or two plants can become wonderfully generous. One day you're checking on a handful of small fruits, the next you're wondering what to do with another basketful from the garden.

Even if you're not growing your own, British courgettes are at their best throughout the summer and are easy to find at farm shops, greengrocers and markets. Mild, versatile and quick to cook, they're the perfect ingredient for everything from light lunches to hearty suppers.

Cheese and courgettes are a natural pairing. The courgettes bring sweetness and freshness, while the right cheese adds richness, savoury depth and plenty of character. Whether you're after something light for lunch or a comforting family meal, these four recipes make the most of the season.

Marinated Courgette Ribbons with Shaved Mayfield

When courgettes are young and tender, there's no need to cook them at all. Thin ribbons are lightly dressed with lemon, herbs and olive oil before being finished with generous shavings of Mayfield. This semi-hard cow's milk cheese has a buttery, nutty flavour that complements the fresh courgettes without overpowering them, making it an ideal dish for warm summer days. Read the recipe here.

Stuffed Courgette Flowers with Paxton's Garlic & Herb Goat's Cheese

If you're lucky enough to have courgette flowers, they make a wonderful seasonal treat. Filled with our Garlic & Herb Goat's Cheese, coated in a light, crisp batter and gently fried until golden, they're a delicious starter or sharing dish that celebrates one of the shortest-lived ingredients of the gardening season. Read the recipe here

Spanish-style Chickpeas, Courgettes & Corra Linn

For something a little heartier, this one-pan dish combines courgettes, chickpeas, smoked paprika and spinach, finished with plenty of grated Corra Linn. This British sheep's milk cheese has rich savoury notes and a subtle caramel sweetness that work beautifully with smoky spices, creating a satisfying meal that's perfect for busy weeknights. Read the recipe here

Sparkenhoe Red Leicester XO & Courgette Quiche

A classic quiche is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to use a glut of courgettes. Britain's only traditional raw milk Red Leicester brings a rich, nutty depth to the filling and melts beautifully alongside the sweet courgettes. Serve it warm from the oven or enjoy it cold for picnics, packed lunches or easy summer suppers.

Which Cheese Works Best with Courgettes?

Courgettes have a delicate flavour, so choosing the right cheese makes all the difference.

• Fresh goat's cheese adds brightness and a gentle tang that works beautifully with courgette flowers and lighter dishes.
• Semi-hard cheeses such as Mayfield offer buttery, nutty flavours that complement raw or lightly dressed courgettes.
• Hard British cheeses like Sparkenhoe Red Leicester bring richness and excellent melting qualities to bakes and quiches.
• Firm sheep's milk cheeses such as Corra Linn add savoury depth and stand up well to bolder flavours like smoked paprika and garlic.

Whether your courgettes have come from the vegetable patch, the allotment or the local market, these recipes are designed to help you make the very most of one of summer's most generous crops.