Italian Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Italian Stuffed Zucchini Boats are a delicious and healthy twist on classic flavors, featuring tender zucchinis hollowed and filled with a savory mixture of herbs, cheese, tomatoes, and ground meat, all baked to perfection.
Equipment
- 9x12 baking dish
- small bowl
- small pot
Ingredients
- 1 c orzo
- 6 zucchini
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 c bread crumbs
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 1 can diced tomato
- 1/3 c grated Parmesan
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 c mozzarella cheese shredded
Instructions
Prepare Orzo
- In a small pot, bring water to a boil. Cook orzo pasta until tender. Drain and set aside
Prepare Zucchini
- Cut zucchini in half lengthwise. With a spoon, scoop out the pulp and place in a bowl. Be sure to leave about 3/8" of the shell
- Par boil the zucchini shells in salted water for 2 minutes. Remove and drain on a cooling rack
Stuffing
- In a skillet, brown the ground beef. Drain off excess fat drippings
- In a bowl, mix together ground beef, zucchini pulp, egg, bread crumbs, diced tomatoes, Parmesan cheese and salt
Bake
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Spoon orzo pasta on the bottom of a 9x12 baking dish
- Arrange open zucchini shells on top of the orzo pasta
- Using a spoon, fill each shell with the stuffing
- Optional: sprinkle tops with shredded mozzarella cheese
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown
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