Taco Stuffed Zucchini Food

TACO STUFFED ZUCCHINI BOATS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Place 1/4 cup of salsa in the bottom of a large baking dish.
• Using a small spoon or melon baller, hollow out the center of the zucchini halves, leaving 1/4-inch thick shell on each half.
• Chop the scooped out flesh of the zucchini in small pieces and set aside 3/4 of a cup to add to the taco filling, (squeeze excess water with a paper towel) discarding the rest or save to use in another recipe.
• Drop zucchini halves in boiling water and cook 1 minute. Remove from water.
• Brown turkey in a large skillet, breaking up while it cooks. When no longer pink add the spices and mix well.
• Add the onion, bell pepper, reserved zucchini, tomato sauce and water. Stir and cover, simmer on low for about 20 minutes.
• Using a spoon, fill the hollowed zucchini boats dividing the taco meat equally, about 1/3 cup in each, pressing firmly.
• Top each with 1 tablespoon of shredded cheese. Cover with foil and bake 35 minutes until cheese is melted and zucchini is cooked through.
• Top with scallions and serve with salsa on the side.

TACO STUFFED ZUCCHINI BOATS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Heat a large skillet on medium heat and add the ground beef. Use your spatula to break up the beef. Add the spices, stir to combine, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes or until browned.
• While the ground beef is cooking, slice the zucchini in half lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop out the insides.
• Place the zucchini on a parchment-lined baking tray and fill with the ground beef. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes in the oven, or until the tops are browned and the zucchini is slightly softened.
• Remove the stuffed zucchini from the oven and drizzle with sour cream, a sprinkle of diced tomatoes and green onions, a few slices of avocado,some fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice.

TACO-STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Cut each zucchini in half lengthwise. Cut a thin slice off the bottoms so that each half sits flat. Scoop out the pulp, leaving a 1/4-inch shell. Chop the pulp.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef, tomato, scallions, chili powder, cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt and garlic powder. Cook, breaking the beef into small pieces, until no longer pink, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the chopped pulp.
• Meanwhile, place the prepared zucchini halves in a microwave-safe dish; sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Cover and microwave on High until tender-crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Uncover.
• Position rack in the upper third of the oven. Preheat broiler to high. Place the zucchini halves on a baking sheet. Divide the beef filling among the zucchini halves and sprinkle each half with 2 tablespoons cheese. Broil until the cheese is melted, about 2 minutes. Serve with lettuce, avocado and pico de gallo, if desired.

CHEF JOHN'S TACO-STUFFED ZUCCHINI BOATS

Steps:

• Combine olive oil, onion, and ground beef in a skillet over high heat. Cook, stirring, until onion turns translucent and the beef is browned and broken up into very small pieces, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and jalapeno pepper and stir for 2 minutes. Stir in 1 teaspoon salt, chili powder, paprika, cayenne, cumin, dried oregano, cornmeal, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute more.
• Stir in tomato sauce and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens to your desired texture, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
• Use a teaspoon or melon baller to scoop out about half the center of each zucchini to create a "boat." Sprinkle generously with remaining kosher salt and let sit, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with a silicone liner.
• Use a paper towel to blot any moisture that the salt draws out of the zucchini. Place boats on the prepared baking sheet and fill each one with as much taco meat mixture as will fit. Top evenly with pepper Jack cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is browned and the zucchini is just barely tender, about 20 minutes. Test for doneness with a sharp knife. Serve immediately.

TACO-STUFFED ZUCCHINI BOATS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease the bottom of a 13x9-inch baking dish.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook zucchini halves in boiling water to just soften slightly, about 1 minute. Remove zucchini halves from the water and arrange into the prepared baking dish with the cut sides facing upwards.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground turkey in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes; drain and discard grease.
• Return skillet to medium-high heat; pour water over the turkey and season with taco seasoning. Cook until the water thickens and coats the turkey, about 5 minutes. Add red peppers, diced tomatoes and green chiles, onion, and cilantro; cook and stir until the peppers are softened, about 5 minutes more.
• Stir sour cream and sour cream seasoning mix together in a bowl.
• Using a slotted spoon, spoon the turkey mixture into the hollows of each zucchini half and press firmly. Top the turkey mixture with about half the sour cream mixture. Sprinkle green onions, Muenster cheese, and Cheddar cheese over the sour cream mixture, respectively.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted and the zucchini is cooked through, about 30 minutes. Top with remaining sour cream mixture.

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.