Vegetable-Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Since I don’t cook with eggplant (which is tricky to do in an Armenian kitchen), I use zucchini in it’s place. Needless to say, I buy a LOT of zucchini! Here’s my take on the meatless Imam Bayeldi recipe. Even without the eggplant,  it tastes mighty good!

Vegetable-Stuffed Zucchini Boats
(Serves 4 as an entree; 8 as a side dish)
4 large zucchini, cut in half lengthwise
2 onions, coarsely chopped
2 large red or yellow bell peppers, seeds removed, and coarsely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1- 15 oz can diced tomatoes, drained and liquid reserved
½ bunch flat-leaf Italian parsley, chopped
½ cup fresh basil, chopped
2 Tbsp. Tomato paste or red pepper paste (or a combination of the two)
1/4 cup pine nuts
olive oil
salt, pepper and ground coriander, to taste
1/2 cup water



Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a large roasting pan with aluminum foil. Set aside.

2. Slice each large zucchini in half lengthwise.

3. Scoop out the insides of each zucchini half; chop and set aside. Leave about 1/4 inch of zucchini “flesh” to create a canoe shape . Place the empty zucchini boats in the lined roasting pan.

4. In a large skillet, saute the chopped inner flesh of the zucchini, onions and peppers in about 3 Tbsp. olive oil until soft, but not brown, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic; cook 2 more minutes.

5. Add the drained tomatoes, parsley, basil; cook 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and coriander to taste.

6. In a small bowl, combine the reserved tomato liquid with the 2 Tbsp. of paste until smooth. Add to vegetables; cook until liquid is a bit thickened and somewhat reduced. Add pine nuts.

7. Season with additional salt, pepper and ground coriander, if desired.

8.. Divide the vegetable mixture to fill each boat. Add about ½ cup water to bottom of pan; this will create steam to aid in the cooking process.

9. Cover pan with foil. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes.

Serve with your favorite pilaf recipe!

View Comments

  • I am not a big fan of zucchini, but these look pretty good! Thanks for providing a great variation for me to try!

  • This looks so delicious! A little heathier than most recipes I see since there are no bread crumbs.

Recent Posts

Armenian Tomato and Bulgur Soup with Mint – by Christine Vartanian Datian

Just in time for soup season, Christine Datian offers The Armenian Kitchen her recipe for…

2 weeks ago

Easter Menu Planning? Look no further!

  I don’t know about you, but in our family, we’re all about tradition when…

8 months ago

St. Sarkis Day and 3 celebratory recipes

It’s that time of year again! St. Sarkis Day, the moveable feast day on the…

9 months ago

A Traditional Recipe for Armenian Christmas Eve – Nevik

Way back in 2010 Ara Kassabian shared his family’s recipe for Nevik with The Armenian…

10 months ago

Thanksgiving Recipes Revisited

With Thanksgiving Day just hours away, I thought I’d share a few of our favorite,…

12 months ago

George Mardikian’s Chicken Tchakhokhbelli recipe, dish favored by Georgian princes.

My family and I had the distinct honor of meeting George Mardikian at his restaurant,…

1 year ago

This website uses cookies. find out more.