Basil Zucchini Boats Recipes

STUFFED ZUCCHINI BOATS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 13 by 9-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
• Using a spoon, scoop centers from zucchini while leaving a 1/4-inch rim on all sides to create boats. Drizzle with 1 Tbsp olive oil, then season with salt and pepper.
• Bake in preheated oven 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute 3 minutes.
• Add sausage in crumbles, cook through, while breaking up meat during cooking. Add garlic during last 1 minute of cooking.
• Remove from heat stir in tomatoes, 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs and Italian seasoning. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Sprinkle 1/3 cup parmesan over zucchini boats, then divide filling among the zucchini boats.
• In a small mixing bowl stir together the mozzarella cheese, remaining 1/3 cup parmesan and remaining 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs. Sprinkle mixture over zucchini boats.
• Bake in preheated oven until tender, about 10 - 15 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm.

MEDITERRANEAN ZUCCHINI BOATS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• From stem to stem, slice the zucchini in half lengthwise. Scoop out the pulp, chop, and set aside.
• In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey sausage and cook for 5 minutes, stirring and breaking it up into smaller pieces. Add the onion and garlic and season with the oregano, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add the reserved chopped zucchini pulp and cook until the onion softens and the turkey is no longer pink.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the whisked egg, bread crumbs, olives, sun dried tomatoes, 3/4 of the basil, pine nuts, and half of the Parmesan cheese. Toss and mix well.
• Spoon the stuffing into the zucchini boats and place in a 9 X 12 baking dish or baking sheet. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 10-15 more minutes or until the zucchini are fork tender. Serve hot topped with the remaining basil and more Parmesan cheese if desired.

ZUCCHINI BOATS WITH RICOTTA AND BASIL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Cut each zucchini in half lengthwise, scoop out pulp, leaving a 1/4 inch thick shell.
• Reserve pulp for another use.
• Arrange zucchini shells single layer in a 13 x 9 inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.
• Combine basil and next 7 ingredients, stirring well with a whisk.
• Divide mixture evenly among shells, pressing gently.
• Bake at 450 degrees for 20 minutes or until zucchini is tender.

ITALIAN-STYLE ZUCCHINI BOATS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Drizzle olive oil on zucchini and season with salt and pepper. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until zucchini is fork-tender, 30 to 45 minutes.
• While zucchini is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef with onion and garlic until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in dried basil, dried oregano, and garlic salt.
• Combine tomato paste with 1 cup of water in a small bowl. Mix thoroughly. Drain fat from beef mixture if needed. Add tomato paste mixture and heat through. Turn off heat, add fresh basil leaves, and mix until well blended.
• Remove zucchini from the oven; leave the oven on. Scoop meat mixture generously into each zucchini quarter and sprinkle each with mozzarella cheese. Return to the oven and bake until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.