Stuffed Zucchini

Stuffed zucchini are a delicious and versatile dish, suitable for various variations. Here is a basic Italian recipe that can be adapted based on what you have at home or your personal tastes.

Ingredients

• 4 medium zucchini
• 200 g ground meat (beef, pork, or a mix of the two)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 100 g grated Parmesan
• 150 g 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 tomato passata
• Fresh basil to taste (optional)

Preparation

1. Cut the zucchini in half lengthwise and scoop out the flesh with a spoon, leaving about half a centimeter of border. Set the flesh aside.
2. Soak the stale bread in milk to soften it.
3. In a pan, sauté the onion and garlic in oil until translucent.
4. Add the ground meat to the onions and garlic and cook until no longer pink. Drain excess fat if necessary.
5. Squeeze the soaked bread and crumble it into the pan with the meat. Stir to combine.
6. Add the zucchini flesh, 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 zucchini on top.
10. Bake in a preheated oven at 180° C for about 30-40 minutes or until the zucchini are tender.
11. Serve hot, with a sprinkle of Parmesan and fresh basil leaves if desired.

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

Trivia

In Italy, stuffed zucchini are prepared in many regional variants; in some places they are made with mushrooms, while in others ricotta or chopped cooked ham is added to the filling. It is a dish that lends itself well to creativity in the kitchen, so do not hesitate to customize it!