These are so good. And so versatile. Served as a main dish, or as a side to grilled meat. The stuffing can be made ahead of time and frozen in portions, so whenever the zucchinis are ready to be picked, it's a super quick meal.
Need more zucchini recipes? Try zucchini fritters: • Crispy, crunchy ZUCCHI...
1 large or 2 medium or 3 small zucchinis
1 tomato, diced
All of the seedy zucchini flesh, diced
1 cup shredded cheese of choice
1/2 onion, diced
2 - 3 cloves garlic, diced
2 seeded, diced jalapenos - optional
1/2 pound ground beef or sausage
1 cup cooked rice or 1/2 cup bread crumbs
salt & pepper to taste
fresh or dried herbs of choice -
1/4 teaspoon paprika - optional
Pepper flakes - optional
Half the zucchinis and spoon out the soft, seedy, inner flesh. Dice seedy flesh and set aside.
Arrange zucchini halves in a baking dish and bake at 400F for approximately 20 minutes or until for goes in easily, while preparing the stuffing.
In a pan, add spoonful of oil, saute onions until translucent.
Add ground beef, and garlic, saute until beef is browned. Add diced seedy flesh and diced tomato and cook for another 2 - 3 minutes.
Shut off heat and allow to cool until zucchinis or baked tender.
Prepare 1 cup shredded cheese.
Add all herbs and spices to meat mixture. Taste and adjust if necessary.
When zucchini are fork tender, top them with the stuffing, layering cheese with the mixture. Keep a bit of cheese aside to top the dish after it is done baking.
2 options:
Before baking the assembled dish at 350F for 15 - 20 minutes until cheese is melted, top with 2 cups of tomato sauce.
- OR-
Top with oven roasted tomatoes. These need to be prepared ahead of time, by slicing several tomatoes, assembling in a single layer on baking sheet, drizzling with olive oil, and baking at 300 for 1 - 2 hours. (These are to die for. Don't be like me and snack them off the tray when they should be used on the zucchini.)
When done, sprinkle with remaining cheese, let cool a bit and then ENJOY!
19 июн 2021
