Green salad with olive dressing
A simple, Italian-inspired side salad to serve with rustic bakes, meat or fish
Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and grease a rectangular ovenproof dish. Cut the courgettes in half across, then cut each one lengthways into 3 long slices and brush sparingly with oil. Heat a griddle pan and cook the courgettes in 2 batches for 6 mins each side until softened and charred.
Meanwhile, spread the bread generously with the cheese. Beat the eggs, milk and pesto together with seasoning. Arrange the bread in the dish, stacking the slices vertically as though in a toast rack, then arrange the courgettes and tomatoes between the slices – you can put 2 slices of courgette between some to pad them out. Pour over the pesto mixture and bake in the oven for 55 mins-1 hr until set and starting to puff up. See tip, below left.