Greek Meatless Stuffed Zucchini Recipes

GREEK VEGETARIAN STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cut each zucchini in half lengthwise and, using a teaspoon, remove most of the flesh, leaving 1/2-inch-thick shells. Coarsely chop half of the flesh; discard the remaining flesh or reserve for another use. Place the zucchini shells on a baking sheet; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until the zucchini starts to soften, 10 to 13 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped zucchini, onion, garlic, paprika and 2 teaspoons oregano; cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion starts to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in quinoa, tomatoes, olives and feta. Divide evenly among the zucchini shells.
• Switch the oven to broil and place a rack 8 inches from the heat. Broil the filled zucchini shells until the tops are lightly browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 teaspoon oregano.

GREEK STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Slightly brown the meat, drain if needed.
• Add the seasonings.
• Cook onions and the garlic in the olive oil.
• Add wine and tomato then cook your mixture 30 minute.
• Let it cool slightly, then quickly stir in the egg whites and bread crumbs.
• Set aside while preparing the zucchini.
• Trim both ends of the zucchini and slice in halves lengthwise.
• Parboil them for 3 minutes in salted water.
• Carefully, remove onto paper towels and drain.
• Place into an oiled, flat roasting pan.
• Scoop out the centers discarding the pulp.
• Spoon the meat filling into the shells.
• Top each with bread crumbs, moistened with oil or butter.
• Sprinkle with the grated cheese over all.
• Bake at 350°F for 40 minutes or until crumbs are golden and the zucchini are very tender.

VEGETARIAN GREEK STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375*F.
• Lightly oil a baking sheet.
• Slice the zucchini in half lengthwise.
• With a paring knife, score the flesh about 1/2 inch deep.
• Place the cut sides down on the baking sheet.
• Sprinkle with the sherry and cover with foil.
• Bake for about 20 minutes, until yielding but still firm.
• While the zucchini bakes, make the sauce.
• Heat the oil in a saucepan, add the onions and garlic, and saute for about 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent.
• Add the tomato paste, tomatoes, oregano, cinnamon, and sherry.
• Then bring to a boil; reduce the heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Add the salt and pepper to taste.
• Cover and set aside.
• While the sauce is simmering, prepare the filling.
• Saute the onions and garlic in the oil for about 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent.
• In a bowl, combine the sauteed onions with the walnuts, feta, currants, and lemon juice.
• Stir in the rice.
• When the zucchini is tender, use a spoon to scoop out the flesh, leaving a thin 1/4 inch shell.
• Chop the flesh and add it to the filling.
• Mound the filling in the shells and sprinkle with seasoned bread crumbs and olive oil, if desired.
• Bake, uncovered, for about 10 to 15 minutes.
• To serve, ladle some of the tomato sauce onto each plate.
• Place a stuffed zucchini on the sauce and top with grated feta.
• Garnish with oregano leaves, if you wish.
• Enjoy!

GREEK STUFFED ZUCCHINI (KOLOKITHAKIA YEMISTA AVGOLEMONO)

Steps:

• Cut zucchini into 1/2s or 1/3s, cored on one end (the other end is left intact) and remove filing carefully with corer so that a not-too-thick wall of zucchini remains to contain the filling, keep 1/2 the zucchini flesh removed from the coring, minced (not the shells- but the actual part of the zucchini that was removed, the other half makes a lovely omelette with a bit of parmesan for another meal!).
• You can prepare your zucchini from the previous day and keep, wrapped, in the refrigerator- this actually makes a lot less work on the day of preparation as it's the coring of the zucchini that takes up the most time.
• Mix the meats, onion, garlic, rice, parsley and zucchini in a bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Stuff this mixture into the opening of the one end of each zucchini piece and make sure the filling goes all the way into the vegetable.
• Level opening neatly so that no filling comes out.
• Layer the filled zucchini pieces in a big pot and add enough boiling water to just cover.
• Put in the stock cubes and the butter and cover.
• Simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour (knife tip should slip into a piece easily), and take off heat.
• Carefully remove the zucchini pieces with a slotted spoon and place on a reheatable serving dish.
• Strain the cooking liquid left in the pot to remove any pieces of zucchini or grains of rice that may be floating around.
• In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the cornstarch and lemon juice (add the juice of 1 lemon at this point).
• Slowly ladle in (literally the thinnest of streams) your hot cooking liquid, whisking the eggs all the while so they don't curdle.
• Keep doing this till nearly all the cooking liquid has been used and then pour your egg mixture and any cooking liquid left back into the pot and heat on a low flame until the sauce has thickened.
• Taste, if it needs more lemon, add up to 1/2 more.
• This is what is called an'Avgolemono Sauce' (Egg-lemon Sauce)- it is delicious.
• When ready to serve, put 2-3 piping hot pieces of the stuffed zucchini on each plate and nap with the sauce.
• Serve with feta cheese on the side (you won't believe how good a nibble of feta tastes with each bite of this!), good, crusty bread (you want to get all the sauce), and wine.

GREEK MEATLESS STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Chop the onion and celery finely. Place them in a pot with the oil, rice, water, salt and pepper. Cook for 25 minutes, over medium heat.
• Meanwhile, mix the juice of two lemons with the egg whites. Set aside.
• Mix the juice of one lemon with the egg yolks. Mix and refrigerate.
• Preheat oven at this point to 350°F.
• Cut the zucchinis in half and scrape out innards. Chop the innards and add to rice mixture after it has cooked for the 25-minute period. Cook with the rice for 5 minutes, to soften the zucchini.
• Take rice off heat and add in the bread crumbs, parsley and egg white mixture. Mix well.
• Place the zucchinis in a baking pan. Stuff the zucchinis with the rice mixture and bake for 40 minutes, covered.
• Take the zucchinis out of the oven, uncover and if there is any juice in the pan, drain it into the egg yolk mixture. Mix well and spoon it onto the zucchinis. Bake uncovered for 5 minutes.
• Serve.