Lamb Stuffed Zucchini Recipes

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.

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.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cut the eggplants in half lengthwise, including the stems. Using a sharp paring knife, scoop out some of the flesh, leaving a shell that is 1/3 inch thick and reserving the scooped-out eggplant. Place the eggplant shells snugly in a single layer in a large (10-by-14-inch) rectangular baking dish. Brush the eggplant all over with 1/4 cup olive oil (use it all!) and sprinkle with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Pour 1/4 cup water in the baking dish, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and bake for 30 minutes, until the shells are tender when pierced with a small knife. Remove from the oven, discard the foil, and leave the oven on.
• Meanwhile, for the lamb filling, in a large (12-inch) skillet, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and saute for 5 minutes, tossing occasionally, until tender. Cut the reserved scooped-out eggplant into 1/2-inch dice (you should have about 2 cups). Add the eggplant to the onion and cook for 5 minutes, adding more oil if it seems dry. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add the ground lamb and cook, mashing lightly with a fork, for 5 to 7 minutes, until no longer pink. Add the oregano and cinnamon and cook for one minute. Add the wine, tomatoes, marinara, parsley, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, until the liquid evaporates. Spoon the filling into the eggplant halves in the baking dish. (You may have a little extra filling.)
• In a medium bowl, mash the ricotta, goat cheese, egg yolks, mint, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper with a fork. With a spoon, place large dollops of the ricotta mixture on the lamb filling and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the filling is hot and the topping is lightly browned. Serve warm, sprinkled with extra mint.

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.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Using a tablespoon, scoop out zucchini centers to form "canoes," leaving a 1/4-inch border. Roughly chop centers; set aside.
• Arrange zucchini, cut sides down, on a rimmed baking sheet; bake 15 minutes. Remove from oven.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium. Add onion and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; cook, stirring, until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add chopped zucchini, and cook, stirring, until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool slightly. Fold in feta and tomatoes.
• Turn hollowed-out zucchini cut sides up, fill with vegetable-feta mixture, and bake until top is lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Lift zucchini from baking sheet with a wide spatula, and serve.