Recipe For Stuffed Zucchini With Ground Beef And Rice

Stuffed zucchini, Middle Eastern style! In this recipe, the humble zucchini act as vessels for a special stuffing of spiced rice and ground beef with tomatoes and fresh herbs. See my step-by-step tutorial for foolproof, and absolutely delicious results!

Stuffed Zucchini with rice and meat in a tomato sauce

When nostalgia takes me back to certain foods and flavors, sometimes all I have to help me is my memory to try and recreate foods I love.

But today is one of those very infrequent and fortune times when my mom happens to be right here in my kitchen! And with her help, I was able to recreate the stuffed zucchini of my childhood.

Meat, rice and tomato-stuffed zucchini plated to be served

You already know how much I adore zucchini-- sauteed in a skillet; in the form of a boat topped with tomato and feta; or these light Baked Zucchini Sticks. Whatever way zucchini is served, I love it!

But today's stuffed zucchini is kind of a big deal recipe; it's the stuff for special dinners and Middle Eastern banquets.

First, the zucchini are hollowed out using a vegetable corer like this one. Then they are filled with a hearty, spiced filling of rice and ground beef or lamb. Finally, the stuffed zucchini are cooked in red sauce until the filling is cooked through the zucchini is perfectly tender.

It may seem labor intensive, but these stuffed zucchini are easier to prepare than you think. And the result is worth every effort!

Here is the step-by-step tutorial for Middle Eastern Stuffed Zucchini

(scroll down for the print-friendly recipe)
In a large bowl, combine the stuffing ingredients of rice, ground beef, fresh parsley, dill, diced tomatoes, water, olive oil and spices. Mix by hand to combine.

Contents of stuffing added to a bowl

Stuffing contents mixed together in a bowl

Now, remove the tops of 3 tomatoes and remove the core to hollow out the tomatoes making room for the stuffing. Do this using a corer like this one; a melon baller or even a spoon may work here.
With a knife, remove the very top of the zucchini, then cut each zucchini in half to make shorter zucchini for stuffing. Now you need to hollow out the zucchini to make room for the stuffing. Insert your corer about ¾ of the way into the zucchini, making sure not to poke the bottoms. Twist the corer and pull out the zucchini cores or hearts. Do this a few times, and gently scrape the sides of the zucchini until you have hollowed each out making room for the stuffing. You'll want to leave about ¼ inch rim of zucchini.

Zucchini centers carved out to allow for stuffing to be added

Lightly oil the bottom of a large deep cooking pan like this one. Slice the remaining tomato and spread over the bottom of the pan. Now add the onion slices and the cores (or hearts) of the zucchini. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper.

Zucchini insides, tomato and onion in a pan

Now, using your hands, gently stuff the hollowed tomatoes with the rice stuffing. Then loosely stuff the zucchini with the rice stuffing about ¾ of the way (do not over-stuff or crowd the rice stuffing in the zucchini or it will not fully cook. Remember, rice needs room to expand as it cooks).
Arrange the stuffed tomatoes somewhat in the center of the cooking pan, then add the zucchini (stuffed side up) around them. Tilt the zucchini a little, this helps them cook nicely through using less liquid (it also allows the lid to close nicely on the pan). Now add the tomato sauce and water. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.

Stuffed Zucchini and tomatoes in a skillet

Place the pan on the stove and cook on medium-high heat until the liquid starts boiling. Turn the heat down, cover and simmer for for 50 minutes until the zucchini is tender and the rice stuffing is fully cooked.Transfer to a serving platter or individual bowls. Top with the sauce from the cooking pan. Enjoy!

Stuffed Zucchini with tomato sauce added to skillet

You may also like: Greek stuffed peppers or stuffed tomatoes.

Description

Middle Eastern stuffed zucchini recipe with a spiced rice and meat filling, cooked in red sauce. A must-try!

For stuffing

½ cup long-grain rice, rinsed well
½ lb lean ground beef
1 small onion, shredded
⅓ packed cup chopped parsley
⅓ packed cup chopped dill
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomato with juice
½ cup water
2 tablespoon Private Reserve extra virgin olive oil
Scant 1 teaspoon allspice
Scant 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper

For Zucchini

4 large and very firm tomatoes, divided (3 to be cored and stuffed, and 1 to be sliced)
1 small onion, sliced into rounds
2 ½ lb Medium-sized zucchini or Middle Eastern zucchini (about 8 or so zucchini), lightly peeled
1 can (14.5 oz) tomato sauce
¾ cup water

In a large bowl, combine the stuffing ingredients of rice, ground beef, shredded onion, fresh parsley, dill, diced tomatoes, water, olive oil, allspice, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. Mix by hand to combine.
Now, remove the top of 3 tomatoes and remove the core to hollow out the tomatoes making room for the stuffing. Do this using a corer like this one.
With a knife, remove the very top of the zucchini, then cut each zucchini in half to make shorter zucchini for stuffing. Now you need to hollow out the zucchini to make room for the stuffing.
Insert your corer about ¾ of the way into the zucchini, making sure not to poke the bottoms. Twist the corer and pull out the zucchini cores or hearts. Do this a few times, and gently scrape the sides of the zucchini until you have hollowed each out making room for the stuffing. You'll want to leave about ¼ inch rim of zucchini.
Lightly oil the bottom of a large deep cooking pan like this one. Slice the remaining tomato and spread over the bottom of the pan. Now add the onion slices and the cores or hearts of the zucchini. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper.
Now, using your hands, gently stuff the hollowed tomatoes with the rice stuffing. Then loosely stuff the zucchini with the rice stuffing about ¾ of the way (do not over-stuff or crowd the rice stuffing in the zucchini or it will not cook well).
Arrange the stuffed tomatoes in the center of the cooking pan, then add the stuffed zucchini (stuffed side up) around them. Tilt the zucchini a little, this helps them cook nicely through using less liquid.
Now add the tomato sauce and water. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
Place the pan on the stove and cook on medium-high heat until the liquid starts boiling. Turn the heat down, cover and simmer for for 50 minutes until the zucchini is tender and the rice stuffing is fully cooked.
Transfer to a serving platter or individual bowls. Top with the sauce from the cooking pan. Enjoy!

Notes

Recommended for this Recipe: Our Private Reserve Greek extra virgin olive oil (from organically grown and processed Koroneiki olives!)
Visit our store to browse our spices, olive oils and bundles!

Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 50 mins
Category: Entree
Method: Baked
Cuisine: Mediterranean/Middle Eastern

Keywords: Middle Eastern Zucchini, Stuffed Zucchini, Zucchini with meat stuffing,

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Close-up of zucchini stuffed with rice, meat and topped with tomato sauce

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