Zucchini Stuffed With Feta And Garlic Food

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.

STUFFED ZUCCHINI WITH WALNUTS AND FETA

Steps:

• Put the zucchini in a large pan of boiling water, return to a boil, and then boil for 3 minutes. Drain, rinse under cold water, drain again and let cool.
• When the zucchini are cool enough to handle, cut a thin strip off the top side of each one with a sharp knife and gently score around the inside edges to help scoop out the flesh. Using a teaspoon, scoop out the flesh, leaving a shell to hold the stuffing. Chop the zucchini flesh.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and fry for 5 minutes, until softened. Add the chopped zucchini flesh and fry 5 minutes, until the onion is golden brown. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Stir in the cheese then the walnuts, bread crumbs, egg, dill, salt, and pepper. Use the stuffing to fill the zucchini shells, and place side by side in an ovenproof dish. Drizzle over the remaining oil.
• Cover the dish with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 375F for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until golden brown (mine weren't as brown as I wanted so I broiled them a couple of minutes). Serve hot.

ZUCCHINI STUFFED WITH FETA AND ROASTED RED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Cut zucchini crosswise into 3/4-inch-thick sections, discarding ends, and with a melonballer scoop out center of each section, leaving 1/16-inch-thick shells and reserving centers for another use. In a steamer set over simmering water steam zucchini shells, covered, 4 minutes, or until barely tender but still bright green. Transfer shells to paper towels to drain upside down.
• In a small bowl stir together roasted peppers, feta, oregano, and black pepper and mound in each shell. Arrange shells in a lightly oiled shallow flameproof baking dish and broil about 4 inches from heat until bubbling and beginning to turn golden, about 4 minutes.

PROSCIUTTO-STUFFED ZUCCHINI WITH FETA AND BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Trim the ends of the zucchini so that they have a flat, sturdy bottom. Stand them up on your cutting board and using a very sharp knife (or mandoline), cut the zucchini lengthwise into 18 strips 1/8 inch thick.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the oil and rosemary. Brush both sides of the zucchini slices with the rosemary oil and season with salt and pepper. Arrange the zucchini slices on a baking sheet and roast, flipping each strip halfway through, until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• In a small skillet, melt the butter over low heat. Once the butter is fully melted, increase the heat to medium. Whisking occasionally, keep an eye on the butter as it begins to foam, and then changes from a pale blonde to a golden shade, about 5 minutes. When the butter's aroma becomes very fragrant and nutty and the color is a deep golden tone, remove the pan from the heat.
• Season the butter with a pinch of salt, whisk vigorously, and then strain through a fine-mesh sieve to get rid of any dark brown bits.
• Lay the cooled zucchini strips on a flat surface and top each one with a thin slice of prosciutto. Place 1 scant tablespoon of feta on the bottom of the strips and roll the zucchini closed.
• Arrange the rolls seam-side down on a large platter and drizzle them evenly with the brown butter. Garnish with the chopped parsley and lemon zest.

ZUCCHINI STUFFED WITH FETA AND DILL

Steps:

• Trim and discard the stem ends from 2 of the zucchini, halve the 2 zucchini lengthwise, and with a melon-ball cutter scoop out the flesh, reserving it and leaving 1/4-inch-thick shells. Arrange the shells, cut sides up, on a steamer rack set over simmering water and steam them, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until they are just tender. Invert the shells on paper towels to drain.
• Cut the remaining 2 zucchini crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. In a non-stick skillet cook the onions in the oil over moderate heat, stirring, until they are softened, add the reserved flesh, chopped, and the zucchini slices, and sauté the mixture over moderately high heat, stirring, until it is golden. In a food processor blend the mixture with the Feta until the zucchini slices are chopped coarse and stir in the dill. Divide the filling among the 4 zucchini shells, arrange the stuffed zucchini in an oiled flameproof baking dish, and broil them under a preheated broiler about 4 inches from the heat for 3 minutes, or until the filling is bubbling and deep golden.

ZUCCHINI STUFFED WITH FETA AND BASIL

Steps:

• Remove the ends of 2 of the zucchini, cut in half lengthwise; use a melon baller to scoop out the flesh, leaving a 1/4" thick shell; set the flesh aside.
• Place the shells in a steamer, cut sides up, and steam until just tender, 3-5 minutes; invert on paper towels and drain.
• Cut the remaining 2 squash into 1/4" slices; heat oil in a non-stick skillet; saute the onions over medium heat, until softened; add the reserved flesh, chopped,and the zucchini slices; continue to cook over medium-high heat, until golden.
• Process the cooked mixture and the feta in a food processor until the zucchini is roughly chopped; stuff the shells with this filling and place them in an oiled baking dish.
• Broil 4" from the heat source until filling is bubbly and deep golden in color, about 3 minutes.