Stuffed Zucchini Boats Recipe Italian Flare Food

ITALIAN STUFFED ZUCCHINI BOATS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Measure one cup of marinara sauce and set aside.
• Trim the ends from the zucchini and slice them in half lengthwise. Using a teaspoon, scrape the inside of the zucchini forming a cavity, being careful not to cut through.
• Place the zucchini boats in a 9 x 13" baking dish and add a cup of water. Cover with foil then bake for 20 minutes or until just slightly fork tender. Remove from oven, remove foil and set aside to cool slightly.
• While the zucchini is cooking, add the olive oil to a skillet and place over medium heat. Add the ground turkey, onions, peppers, and garlic to the pan, and stir until fully combined. Cook, stirring to break up the ground turkey as it cooks. Cook until the meat is cooked and the vegetables have softened. If there is too much grease, drain off as much as possible. and return skillet to the heat.
• Add the remaining 2 cups marinara sauce, parsley and spices and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Taste and adjust the spices if necessary.
• Remove the zucchini from the baking dish and drain off the water. Pour the 1 cup marinara on the bottom of the dish and place the zucchini on top of the sauce.
• Fill the zucchini cavities with the meat sauce. If you have extra, add it around the zucchini or save it to enjoy with pasta another day. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. or until zucchini is fork tender.
• Remove dish from oven and set the oven to broil. Remove the foil then sprinkle the mozzarella cheese, then the parmigiano-reggiano cheese, and then the breadcrumbs evenly over the six zucchini boats.
• Place dish in the oven and broil for approximately 2 minutes, with the door open, until the cheese has melted and golden in colour.
• *I used my Basil Tomato Sauce Recipe #447975.

STUFFED ZUCCHINI BOATS

Steps:

• Trim ends of zucchini; place in a steamer basket. In a saucepan, bring 1 in. of water to a boil; add basket. Cover and steam for 5 minutes. When zucchini is cool enough to handle, cut in half lengthwise; scoop out pulp, leaving a 1/4-in. shell. Set pulp aside., In a bowl, beat the egg; add spinach, bread crumbs, tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese, onion, garlic, salt, pepper and zucchini pulp. Spoon into zucchini shells., Place in an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20 minutes. Top each with tomatoes and Swiss cheese. Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

ITALIAN STUFFED ZUCCHINI BOATS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Measure out 1 cup of the marinara sauce and set aside.
• Trim ends from zucchini and slice in half, lengthwise. Use the tip of a spoon to scrape out the zucchini flesh (see recipe note), chop it and set it aside. Place the scooped out zucchini boats into a 13- x 9-inch baking dish and add about 1-inch of water. Cover with foil and bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, until just slightly fork-tender. Remove from oven, and set aside to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, add olive oil to a 12-inch skillet and place over MEDIUM heat. Add turkey (or beef), onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the skillet. Cook, stirring to break up the ground meat as it cooks. Continue to cook and stir until meat is thoroughly cooked and veggies have softened. Drain off as much grease as possible and return the skillet to the heat.
• Add the chopped zucchini flesh, mushrooms, remaining marinara in jar (reserve 1 cup for later), parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, fresh ground black pepper, and crushed red pepper. Stir well to combine. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and allow to simmer over low heat for about 15 minutes.
• Remove partially cooked zucchini from baking dish and pour off water. Pour the 1 cup of reserved marinara sauce into the empty baking dish and place zucchini boats on top of the sauce.
• Divide the filling between the zucchini boats. If you have extra filling, spoon it into the dish around the zucchini boats. Cover the dish with foil, and bake for 20 minutes, or until zucchini is fork tender. Remove dish from oven and set oven to BROIL.
• Remove foil and sprinkle zucchini boats with mozzarella, Parmesan and the panko bread crumbs. Place dish in oven, watching closely, and cook for just a couple of minutes until cheese has melted and bread crumbs are golden brown.

STUFFED ZUCCHINI BOATS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400˚ F. Drizzle a rimmed baking sheet with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season the zucchini halves with salt and pepper. Add to the baking sheet and turn to coat with the oil. Arrange the zucchini cut-side down in a single layer. Roast until crisp-tender, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in the cumin and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper; cook 30 seconds. Add the turkey and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and chicken broth until combined. Cook until the broth is reduced to a thick sauce, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Turn the zucchini boats cut-side up and fill with the turkey mixture, packing it in. Sprinkle with the cheese and roast until the zucchini is tender and the cheese is softened, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir together the yogurt and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Drizzle the zucchini boats with the yogurt mixture and top with the dill.

ITALIAN STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a small baking dish with foil. Scoop out the seeds from the zucchini, leaving a 1/4-inch-thick shell.
• Combine the ricotta, 1/4 cup Italian cheese blend, the parsley, capicola and lemon zest and juice in a medium bowl. Season the zucchini with salt and pepper, then fill with the ricotta mixture.
• Drizzle each zucchini half with about 1 tablespoon marinara sauce, then sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup Italian cheese blend. Transfer to the baking dish and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbling, about 20 minutes.

ITALIAN ZUCCHINI BOATS

Steps:

• Cut zucchini in half lengthwise. With a spoon, scoop out and reserve pulp, leaving a 3/8 inch shell. Cook shells in salted water for 2 minute; remove and drain.
• Chop zucchini pulp; place in a bowl. Add the bread crumbs, eggs, tomato, parmesan cheese, parsley and garlic. Stir in broth, salt and pepper. Stuff into zucchini shells.
• Place in greased 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Drizzle with butter. Bake, uncovered at 350° for 15 minutes remove and top with shredded mozarella for an additional 5 minutes.
• *You could substitute oregano instead of italian seasoning. I also use more of the basit and italian seasoning as I enjoy a more intense flavor.Season to suit.

ITALIAN STUFFED ZUCCHINI BOATS

Steps:

• Split zucchini lengthwise after cutting off the very ends.
• Scoop out seeds from center of zucchini allowing 1-2 inches of flesh on the outside of the "boat." (I cut a small amount off the under side of each boat to allow it to lay flat.).
• Place boats on large jelly roll pan. (I cover the pan with aluminum foil to make clean up easier.).
• In large skillet, begin browning sausage, mushrooms, and onion. When mixture is about half done, add garlic. Continue to cook until meat is cooked through.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Stir in bread crumbs, cream cheese and 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese and blend well.
• Spoon mixture into zucchini boats.
• Heat in oven for 30-35 minutes or until zucchini gives easily when stuck with a fork.
• Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan and cook an additional 10 minutes or until golden brown.
• Remove from oven and slice to serve.

STUFFED ZUCCHINI BOATS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 Degrees F.
• Wash and dry the zucchini, and cut them in half.
• Cut off the stem end.
• Using a sharp, small spoon, scoop out the center of each half leaving at least 1/2 inch shell all around.
• Complete all of the zucchini halves in this fashion, setting aside the center.
• Take half of the center pulp and chop it finely.
• Use the other half for another purpose.
• Heat the olive oil in a frying pan, and cook the zucchini pulp, pancetta, onion, and garlic until the pancetta begins to brown and the vegetables are soft.
• Add the bread cubes and cook another few minutes until they begin to brown.
• Remove and let cool to room temperature.
• Add the parmesan, salt, pepper and parsley to the stuffing mixture and stir well to combine.
• Place the zucchini boats in a shallow casserole dish and divide the stuffing equally between each mounding it slightly on top.
• Pour in the cup of wine into the dish, cover and bake for 20 minutes.
• Remove the cover and bake an additional 20 minutes or until the zucchini boat is fork tender and lightly browned on top.