Zucchini Boats With Lamb And Yogurt Fillings Recipes

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.

ZUCCHINI BOATS WITH LAMB AND YOGURT FILLINGS

Steps:

• Place the yogurt in a paper-towel-lined sieve and let drain for 2 hours. Meanwhile, halve 4 of the zucchini lengthwise and scrape out the seeds and flesh. Sprinkle the insides with 2 teaspoons of the salt, place cut side down on paper towels and let drain for 2 hours. Cut 3 of the remaining zucchini into small dice, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of the salt, place in a sieve and let drain for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, finely dice the last zucchini. Heat the oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and finely diced zucchini and cook until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add the carrot and cook for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Crumble the lamb into the skillet and stir until cooked through, about 4 minutes. Stir in the cumin, remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and pepper to taste. Add the mint and olives.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Pat all of the drained zucchini dry. Stir the diced zucchini into the yogurt and set aside. Divide the lamb mixture among the zucchini shells and place in a shallow baking dish that's been lightly oiled. Top with the yogurt mixture. Bake for 30 minutes. Preheat the broiler. Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the zucchini and place under the broiler until browned. Place 2 stuffed zucchini halves on each of 4 plates and serve.

LAMB STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Wash the zucchini well and cut the stem off. If using regular long zucchini, slice in half lengthwise. Using a melon baller, hollow out the middle of the zucchini while keeping a "boat" of outer flesh intact. Swirl 1T. olive oil in the bottom of a baking dish and place the zucchini boats in the dish.
• Preheat oven to 350.
• In a non-stick medium fry pan, saute the onions and garlic in the other T. of olive oil. Let them soften but do not brown.
• Add the ground lamb and cook until the lamb is mostly cooked through.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in the bread crumbs and rosemary, salt and pepper.
• Beat the egg lightly in a separate bowl then pour over the lamb mixture and stir to combine.
• Spoon the lamb mixture into each zucchini cavity, mounding to fill. Any filling that falls around the zucchini will just make nice browned bits to eat.
• Cover with foil loosely and bake in oven for 20 minutes.
• Remove foil and bake another 10-15 minutes or until zucchini is nicely softened and stuffing is browned.