Greek Meatless Stuffed Zucchini Food

GREEK VEGETARIAN STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cut each zucchini in half lengthwise and, using a teaspoon, remove most of the flesh, leaving 1/2-inch-thick shells. Coarsely chop half of the flesh; discard the remaining flesh or reserve for another use. Place the zucchini shells on a baking sheet; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until the zucchini starts to soften, 10 to 13 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped zucchini, onion, garlic, paprika and 2 teaspoons oregano; cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion starts to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in quinoa, tomatoes, olives and feta. Divide evenly among the zucchini shells.
• Switch the oven to broil and place a rack 8 inches from the heat. Broil the filled zucchini shells until the tops are lightly browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 teaspoon oregano.

VEGETARIAN GREEK STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375*F.
• Lightly oil a baking sheet.
• Slice the zucchini in half lengthwise.
• With a paring knife, score the flesh about 1/2 inch deep.
• Place the cut sides down on the baking sheet.
• Sprinkle with the sherry and cover with foil.
• Bake for about 20 minutes, until yielding but still firm.
• While the zucchini bakes, make the sauce.
• Heat the oil in a saucepan, add the onions and garlic, and saute for about 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent.
• Add the tomato paste, tomatoes, oregano, cinnamon, and sherry.
• Then bring to a boil; reduce the heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Add the salt and pepper to taste.
• Cover and set aside.
• While the sauce is simmering, prepare the filling.
• Saute the onions and garlic in the oil for about 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent.
• In a bowl, combine the sauteed onions with the walnuts, feta, currants, and lemon juice.
• Stir in the rice.
• When the zucchini is tender, use a spoon to scoop out the flesh, leaving a thin 1/4 inch shell.
• Chop the flesh and add it to the filling.
• Mound the filling in the shells and sprinkle with seasoned bread crumbs and olive oil, if desired.
• Bake, uncovered, for about 10 to 15 minutes.
• To serve, ladle some of the tomato sauce onto each plate.
• Place a stuffed zucchini on the sauce and top with grated feta.
• Garnish with oregano leaves, if you wish.
• Enjoy!

GREEK STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Slightly brown the meat, drain if needed.
• Add the seasonings.
• Cook onions and the garlic in the olive oil.
• Add wine and tomato then cook your mixture 30 minute.
• Let it cool slightly, then quickly stir in the egg whites and bread crumbs.
• Set aside while preparing the zucchini.
• Trim both ends of the zucchini and slice in halves lengthwise.
• Parboil them for 3 minutes in salted water.
• Carefully, remove onto paper towels and drain.
• Place into an oiled, flat roasting pan.
• Scoop out the centers discarding the pulp.
• Spoon the meat filling into the shells.
• Top each with bread crumbs, moistened with oil or butter.
• Sprinkle with the grated cheese over all.
• Bake at 350°F for 40 minutes or until crumbs are golden and the zucchini are very tender.

GREEK STUFFED ZUCCHINI (KOLOKITHAKIA YEMISTA AVGOLEMONO)

Steps:

• Cut zucchini into 1/2s or 1/3s, cored on one end (the other end is left intact) and remove filing carefully with corer so that a not-too-thick wall of zucchini remains to contain the filling, keep 1/2 the zucchini flesh removed from the coring, minced (not the shells- but the actual part of the zucchini that was removed, the other half makes a lovely omelette with a bit of parmesan for another meal!).
• You can prepare your zucchini from the previous day and keep, wrapped, in the refrigerator- this actually makes a lot less work on the day of preparation as it's the coring of the zucchini that takes up the most time.
• Mix the meats, onion, garlic, rice, parsley and zucchini in a bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Stuff this mixture into the opening of the one end of each zucchini piece and make sure the filling goes all the way into the vegetable.
• Level opening neatly so that no filling comes out.
• Layer the filled zucchini pieces in a big pot and add enough boiling water to just cover.
• Put in the stock cubes and the butter and cover.
• Simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour (knife tip should slip into a piece easily), and take off heat.
• Carefully remove the zucchini pieces with a slotted spoon and place on a reheatable serving dish.
• Strain the cooking liquid left in the pot to remove any pieces of zucchini or grains of rice that may be floating around.
• In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the cornstarch and lemon juice (add the juice of 1 lemon at this point).
• Slowly ladle in (literally the thinnest of streams) your hot cooking liquid, whisking the eggs all the while so they don't curdle.
• Keep doing this till nearly all the cooking liquid has been used and then pour your egg mixture and any cooking liquid left back into the pot and heat on a low flame until the sauce has thickened.
• Taste, if it needs more lemon, add up to 1/2 more.
• This is what is called an'Avgolemono Sauce' (Egg-lemon Sauce)- it is delicious.
• When ready to serve, put 2-3 piping hot pieces of the stuffed zucchini on each plate and nap with the sauce.
• Serve with feta cheese on the side (you won't believe how good a nibble of feta tastes with each bite of this!), good, crusty bread (you want to get all the sauce), and wine.