Spicy Lebanese Lamb Stuffed Squash Food

SPICY, LEBANESE LAMB-STUFFED SQUASH

Steps:

• Cook squash in microwave or Cut a thin slice off the bottom of each squash half, if necessary, so that it will stand without wobbling. Place squash, hollow side up, in a shallow baking pan. Add 1/4 cup water, cover with foil. Bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes Squash should be just tender, not soft.
• Meanwhile prepare filling. Brown lamb with olive oil in a large heavy skillet over high heat.
• Reduce heat to med. and add onions, stir fry for 5 minutes Add all remaining ingredients except rice and tomato sauce.
• Turn heat to low and let simmer 10-15 mins., until currants plump and flavors mingle.
• Mix in rice, recover and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Stir in tomato sauce and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
• Drain squash on paper towel and brush lightly with 1 tablespoon soft margarine. Mound filling into each hollow.Arrange squash on a cookie sheet or baking pan. Bake at 350 for 30 min or until stuffing and squash are heated through. (I usually skip the baking & just serve it up when stuffing is done).
• Can also be stuffed and refrigerated then heated for about 45 minutes.

LEBANESE KOOSA (STUFFED YELLOW SQUASH)

Steps:

• Cut stems from squash and scoop out seeds. Because of the small size of the squash, you may twirl a knife in the flesh to scrape the seeds. The most effective method is to take a flat handle silver spoon and use the handle end to scrape out the seeds. You may rinse out the inside with water.
• Heat olive oil in pan over medium heat.
• Slice onion and add to hot olive oil.
• Let fry for about 3-5 minutes while you make the stuffing.
• In a large bowl, combine lamb, rice, and spices. The best method is to get in it with your hands and just smoosh and mix without any sort of utensils.
• Add cans of tomato sauce and diced tomato to the onions.
• Stuff squash with mixture. Leave about a half inch to a quarter inch of room at the end as the rice will expand. Also, do not pack too tightly as the expanding rice will break the squash.
• Add the stuffed squashes to the pan.
• Chop the garlic cloves into fine pieces and sprinkle between the squash in the pan.
• Add water to just cover the squash and let simmer over medium heat for 40 minutes.
• Squeeze a few drops fresh lemon juice over squash and sprinkle a pinch of mint.
• Allow to cook another 10 minutes or so.
• **Note** I have made this several more times and revised only the cooking time slightly. I found it somewhat easier to cut the squashes in half from the start. Additionally, I always test the filling to make sure the rice is fully cooked.

KUSA MIHSHI - STUFFED LEBANESE SQUASH / CUCUZZA / KOOSA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Hollow out each zucchini using a zucchini / apple corer or small, flexible paring knife, leaving 1/8-inch-thick walls.
• Combine lamb, rice, 1 1/4 teaspoons marjoram, 3/4 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon mint, 1/8 teaspoon allspice, salt and cayenne in a medium bowl. Loosely stuff each zucchini with the lamb mixture. Place the stuffed zucchini in a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.
• Combine tomato sauce with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon marjoram, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 3/4 teaspoon mint and 1/8 teaspoon allspice in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil then pour over the zucchini. Cover the pan with foil.
• Bake, turning the zucchini halfway through cooking, until the zucchini and rice are tender and the filling reaches 165ºF on an instant-read thermometer, 40 to 50 minutes. Serve the zucchini with the sauce.