Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Tasty and filling...a great zucchini dish!

There's just nothing better than vegetables, fresh from the garden.  So, when a neighbor sent over some zucchini (along with other yummy veggies) I knew it was time to make these Stuffed Zucchini Boats again!

My husband really enjoyed dishes made with fresh zucchini from the garden, and it was the first time my granddaughter ever had them.   She really enjoyed them, too.  This surprised her a little, since she thought she didn't like zucchini, but one bite changed her mind. 

This is another one of those "play with it" recipes.  You can add Italian sausage to the ground beef, cooked rice, chopped mushrooms or diced up mozzarella.  I used what was in the pantry today, but I have used all the above at one time or another. 

 

Ingredients:
2-3 medium zucchini
1 lb. ground beef
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 tsp. parsley flakes or 1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 cup grated parmesan
1/3 cup dried breadcrumbs
1 egg
1 cup of your favorite marinara sauce

Preheat oven to 350'F.  Spray a 7x11" baking dish and spread a scoop of sauce around the bottom.

Hollowed out zucchini "boats"

Cut the zucchini in half lengthwise. With a spoon, scoop out the insides, leaving a shell. (I use a grapefruit spoon, with serrated edges...works great!)  Chop and reserve about 3/4 of the zucchini pulp for the stuffing.

In a large frying pan, brown ground beef with onions and garlic; add reserved pulp and cook until squash is soft.  Season with salt and pepper.  Remove from heat, stir in egg, breadcrumbs, parmesan and parsley.  Add enough tomato sauce to moisten. 

Season squash shells with salt and pepper, stuff with filling; mixture should be piled up over the top.  Place the filled zucchini halves into the prepared baking dish.  Spoon the marinara sauce over the tops of the zucchini.  Sprinkle with more grated parmesan.

Ready for the oven.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for approximately 45 minutes.

Covering this dish saves the bubbly splatter from messing up your oven.  I'm all about easy clean-up!

 



Now, that's a perfect dinner!

Be encouraged!

I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.   -Isaiah 41:10b