Inspired by Tangela

Tangela Pesto & Pancetta Courgetti

Name: Tangela Pesto & Pancetta Courgetti
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 Courgettes; 150 g Pancetta; 1 Large Avocado; 1 Lemon (zested and juiced); 25 g Basil Leaves (plus extra to garnish); 1 clove Garlic (roughly chopped); 2 tsp Pine Nuts (plus extra to garnish); 1 tbsp Olive Oil

A dish made up of Courgette ribbons, avocado pesto and pancetta has attempted to recreate the appearance of the vine Pokémon, Tangela.

Servings:

2

Ready In:

20 mins

Good For:

Lunch

Tangela is a Pokémon covered by blue, seaweed-like vines that obscure its face. There is a small opening in the vines that reveals its eyes surrounded by a black space. The vines give Tangela a round shape, but it is unknown what it looks like without them. Its vines are covered in fine hair and are always growing. If damaged or lost, replacements are grown. There is a pair of red boot-like feet poking out from under the vines, but no visible arms.

Tangela can ensnare and entangle anything that moves too close to it with its vines. The vines constantly jiggle and sway, unnerving enemies and causing a tickling sensation if ensnared. Tangela’s vines will snap off easily and painlessly if the target pulls on them, so it can quickly escape. Tangela can usually be found in grassy plains.

Ingredients

2 Courgettes
150g Pancetta
1 Avocado (large)
1 Lemon (zest grated and juiced)
25g Basil leaves (plus extra to garnish)
1 clove Garlic (roughly chopped)
2 tsp Pine Nuts (plus extra to garnish)
1 tbsp olive oil

As Tangela is a vine based Pokémon, I wanted to use Courgetti as the base of the dish. However rather than using fine courgette noodles, I decided to go with ribbons to keep more flavour in. I’ve found in the past that noodles tend to get very soggy very quickly, whereas ribbons help keep some of the moisture inside the vegetable.

I added some pesto the dish to add some healthy flavour and some pancetta to replicate the boot-like feet. It is unknown what Tangela looks like underneath the vines, but I hope I have captured the appearance of the strange creature that Tangela looks like.

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1

Chop the ends off the courgettes. Using a potato peeler, make ribbons from the courgettes by peeling from one end to the other. Keep peeling until you have nothing left.

Step 2

Remove the skin and stone from the avocado and add the flesh to a food processor. Add the lemon zest, juice, basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts and olive oil into a food processor. Season then pulse to make a rough pesto.

Step 3

Add some olive oil to a frying pan and fry the pancetta for 2 minutes before adding the courgette ribbons for an extra 5 minutes, stirring often. Drain off the excess water and add the pesto. Mix well.

Step 4

Serve with a helping of black pepper on top. Garnish with the extra pine nuts and basil leaves.