- 1 extra large zucchini, halved lengthwise
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 sweet onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
- 1 pound ground lamb
- coarse salt to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
- 1 (16 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ½ cup pine nuts
- ¼ cup mint leaves
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup mint leaves
- ¾ cup seasoned bread crumbs
- ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions:
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
- Step 2: 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.
- Step 3: 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.
- Step 4: 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.
- Step 5: 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.
Cook’s Note:
You can use basil in place of the mint. Using mint or basil will send the flavor either in a Middle-Eastern or Italian direction. If you use basil, consider changing the meat to ground beef, the nuts to walnuts, and the cheese to all mozzarella.
Nutrition Facts:
Per Serving:
649 calories; protein 40.6g; carbohydrates 38.8g; fat 38.7g; cholesterol 114.7mg; sodium 1522.8mg.
