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Stuffed Zucchini

17/11/2023

Stuffed zucchini is a delicious and versatile dish that lends itself to several variations. Here is a basic Italian recipe, which can be adapted based on what you have at home or your personal tastes.

Ingredients

  • 4 medium zucchinis
  • 200 g of ground meat (beef, pork, or a mix of the two)
  • 1 small chopped onion
  • 2 cloves of chopped garlic
  • 100 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 150 g of stale bread
  • Milk, as needed to soften the bread
  • 1 egg
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Extra-virgin olive oil to taste
  • Chopped parsley to taste
  • 1 cup of tomato passata
  • Fresh basil to taste (optional)

Preparation

  1. Cut the zucchinis in half lengthwise and scoop out the pulp with a teaspoon, leaving about half a centimeter of edge. Set the pulp aside.
  2. Soak the stale bread in milk to soften.
  3. In a pan, sauté the onion and garlic in oil until translucent.
  4. Add the ground meat to the onion and garlic and cook until it is no longer pink. Drain excess fat if necessary.
  5. Squeeze the soaked bread and crumble it into the pan with the meat. Mix to combine.
  6. Add the zucchini pulp, parsley, salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool slightly before adding the egg and grated Parmesan.
  8. Stuff the zucchini with the meat and bread mixture.
  9. Pour the tomato passata into a baking dish and place the stuffed zucchinis on top.
  10. Bake in a preheated oven at 180° C for about 30-40 minutes or until the zucchinis are tender.
  11. Serve hot, with a sprinkle of Parmesan and fresh basil leaves if desired.

For a vegetarian variant, replace the ground meat with cooked quinoa, rice, or a mix of cheeses and vegetables (such as chopped spinach and mushrooms). You can also add diced mozzarella for a melting heart.

Curiosity

In Italy, stuffed zucchinis are prepared in many regional variations; some places make them with mushrooms, while others add ricotta or chopped cooked ham to the filling. It is a dish that lends itself very well to creativity in cooking, so do not hesitate to personalize it!