Shepherds Pie Style Stuffed Zucchini Recipes

SHEPHERD'S PIE WITH ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Heat oil in large fry pan over medium heat. Saute onion, red pepper, and garlic 3 minutes. Add zucchini and beef, breaking up beef with spoon. Cook stirring often, until meat loses red color (4 minutes). Stir in half the cheddar cheese, 1 t. salt, basil, and pepper. Reserve.
• Preheat oven to 450. Lightly grease 9 x 13 casserole. Bring water, milk, and 1 t. salt to boil. Stir in potato flakes; then beat in egg and rest of cheese. Remove from heat.
• Spread half of potato mixture in bottom of casserole. Spoon meat mixture over potatoes; spoon rest of potatoes on top. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
• Bake at 450 for 15 minutes. Broil for 3-5 to brown top; then let sit 5 minutes before cutting. (If made ahead, heat for 30 minutes at 350 or until center is warm. Then heat at 450 for 15 minutes to brown the top.).

SHEPHERD'S PIE-STYLE STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• In a large skillet set over high heat, heat 1 tablespoon of oil until very hot. Add the lamb, season it lightly with salt and pepper and cook, stirring and breaking up the chunks of meat, until lightly browned, 7 to 8 minutes. Remove the lamb from the skillet, drain and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Slice the zucchini in half, lengthwise, and use a spoon to scoop out the flesh from its center, leaving "boats" with sides that are about 1/3 of an inch thick. Place the boats in a large roasting pan and set aside. Dice the zucchini flesh and set it aside.
• Return the skillet in which the lamb has cooked to medium-high heat and add the remaining tablespoon of oil, the diced zucchini flesh, onions, garlic, thyme, coriander and cinnamon. Cook until the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Add the wine and cook until all the liquid has evaporated. Add the lamb and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle the zucchini boats with salt and divide the lamb mixture between the boats, packing it gently in and mounding slightly if necessary. Cover the top of each boat with a layer of mashed potatoes and dust with bread crumbs. Pour the chicken stock into the roasting pan, being careful not to wet the tops of the zucchini. Bake until the boats are soft and the potatoes are browned on top, about 40 minutes. Remove from the pan and serve.