Mexican Stuffed Zucchini Food

MEXICAN STUFFED ZUCCHINI BOATS RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Using a spoon, hollow out the middle of each zucchini half (a grapefruit spoon works well for this) leaving enough intact around the edges so that the zucchini is still sturdy and retains its shape. Set the inside scraps aside for another use or discard. Place zucchini boats in a 9x12 baking dish.
• Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Once hot, add the beef and cook until browned, breaking up with a spatula.
• Once browned, add onion, peppers and garlic. Stir to combine and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes until slightly softened.
• Add the beans, corn and spices to the skillet and stir until well combined.
• Add the salsa and half of the shredded cheese, mix until incorporated then turn off the heat.
• Spoon an even amount of the mixture into each zucchini half and top with the remaining cheese.
• Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove foil for the last 5 minutes to fully melt the cheese.
• Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve.

TEX-MEX STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F and line a baking sheet with foil. Halve 2 zucchini lengthwise; scoop out the seeds, leaving a 1/4-inch-thick shell. Chop the scooped-out zucchini flesh and transfer to a bowl. Grate the remaining whole zucchini on the large holes of a box grater; add to the bowl along with 1 teaspoon salt. Set aside 10 minutes, then squeeze out the liquid.
• Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, minced jalapeno, chile powder and grated zucchini mixture; cook until tender, 4 minutes. Let cool, then stir in the cheese. Spoon into the zucchini halves. Transfer to the baking sheet and bake until bubbling, 20 minutes.
• Combine the tomato, scallions and cilantro in a small bowl. Spoon over the zucchini, then top with pickled jalapenos.

MEDITERRANEAN STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Use a melon baller to separate and remove seeds and pulp separately from the zucchini, carving out each half and leaving about a half-inch shell. Chop zucchini pulp into pieces about 1/4 inch in diameter. Discard seeds.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion and garlic in hot oil until tender, about 5 minutes. Add ground lamb; continue to cook and stir until lamb is lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir chopped zucchini into the lamb mixture. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer mixture until the zucchini is hot, about 3 minutes. Drain excess grease. Season lamb mixture with coarse salt and black pepper.
• Remove skillet from heat. Stir tomato sauce, tomatoes, feta cheese, pine nuts, and 1/4 cup mint leaves through the lamb mixture; spoon into the zucchini halves. Put stuffed zucchini halves into a large baking dish. Pour water into the baking dish.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Mix bread crumbs and mozzarella cheese in a bowl. Sprinkle 1/4 cup mint leaves over the zucchini and top with the bread crumb mixture. Continue baking until the top is crusty and browned, about 10 minutes more.

MEXICAN ZUCCHINI BOATS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spray the bottom of a baking dish with cooking spray.
• Fill a large skillet with water and bring to a boil. Boil zucchini halves for 1 minute. Drain.
• Heat the large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef and onion in the hot skillet until beef is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Add tomato sauce, corn, bell pepper, and taco seasoning; cook and stir until bubbly.
• Place zucchini halves into the prepared baking dish, cut-sides up. Scoop meat mixture into the boats and sprinkle cheese on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until tender and cheese is melted, about 30 minutes. Garnish with scallions.

MEXICAN STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Take zucchini and make boats out of them (slice the top off and scoop out the seeds and discard) Place in a casserole dish.
• Bring beef broth to a boil, add rice and cook as directed; set aside.
• Brown hamburger with onions (and peppers& mushrooms if you want); drain.
• Add taco seasoning with water as directed and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add rice and simmer for 3 minutes.
• Mix ricotta cheese with Parmesan and 1/4 cup of mozzarella.
• Spoon cheese mixture in bottom of boats.
• Spoon rice and beef mixture into boats until filled.
• Put sliced tomatoes over the tops of the boats.
• Bake at 350°F for 1 hour, or until zucchini is soft when pricked with a fork.
• Sprinkle tops with remaining mozzarella cheese and bake until cheese melts.
• Serve with sour cream and salsa.