STUFFED ZUCCHINI BOATS
Stuffed Zucchini Boats are so deliciously cheesy with 3 different kinds of cheese used along with pasta and pesto. Serve them with some soup, salad or as a side dish.
Ingredients
- 2 large zucchinis
FOR THE STUFFING:
- ½ cup cooked pasta
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ¼ cup onion finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic peeled and finely chopped
- 1-1½ tbsp pesto
- ¼ cup feta cheese
- ¼ cup parmesan
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper powder
- ½ cup chopped zucchini use the scooped out bits
- 1 tsp mixed dried herbs
FOR THE ZUCCHINI BOATS:
- 1 tsp olive oil for brushing
- little salt to sprinkle over
- FOR THE TOPPING:
- ¼ -½ cup grated cheese
- some chilli flakes optional
Instructions
PREPARATION OF THE ZUCCHINI BOATS:
- Wash and wipe the zucchinis.
- Trim the ends.
- Taste a small piece to make sure they are not bitter.
- Place the zucchinis in a horizontal position.
- Make an incision on the top part of the zucchini. Slice off the top, a bit and not too much.
- Using a spoon, scoop out the flesh of the zucchini. Don't dig too deep or the zucchini will split.
- Place the scooped out zucchini boats on a lined baking tray.
- Brush some olive oil over the zucchini boats.
- Sprinkle some salt over them.
PREPARATION OF THE STUFFING:
- Dice the zucchini tops you sliced off.
- Put oil in a wide pan over medium heat.
- Add onion and garlic. Stir fry till the onion becomes a bit soft.
- Add zucchini, herbs, pepper and salt. Stir fry for 1-2 minutes.
- Add cooked pasta. Mix well.
- Add feta and parmesan cheese. Mix well.
- Take the pan off the heat.
- Add pesto and mix well.
BAKING THE STUFFED ZUCCHINI BOATS:
- Add stuffing in the scooped out zucchini boats.
- Press it down a bit gently so you can get more stuffing in them.
- Sprinkle chilli flakes.
- Add grated cheese.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or till the cheese melts.
SERVING TIPS:
- Serve stuffed zucchini boats with some salad or soup.
- Or serve it as a side dish.
Notes
- Add a filling of your choice.
- Make sure to taste the zucchini before you bake them. They can be bitter sometimes.
- If you want softer zucchini, cover them with foil and bake. Then allow the cheese to brown a little under the broiler or grill.
- Adds nuts or seeds of your choice.
- Adjust the spices and salt according to your taste.
- You can use fresh herb of your choice.
- If you have any scooped out zucchini left, use it up in a soup or curry.