Zucchini Boats stuffed with Lamb

10 years ago

Our south Florida neighbors, Marilyn and David, have a summer place in upstate NY just about an hour from where Doug and I are staying.
We met them for lunch on a gorgeous afternoon last week at Frank Guido’s Port of Call Restaurant overlooking the scenic Hudson River.

Summer squash and one giant zucchini!

They brought us a bag of summer squash and one zucchini larger than any I’d ever seen – a gift from their friend’s bumper crop. As we thanked them for their thoughtfulness, I was already thinking about what to make with the giant zucchini.

Doug and I had ordered 2 legs of locally sourced American lamb from a local farm for one of the upcoming pre-wedding gatherings.

When we picked up our lamb, we found packages of freshly ground lamb in the refrigerated case. This would certainly become the main stuffing ingredient for our giant zucchini. The rest of the recipe was easy to imagine – zucchini boats stuffed with lamb!

Zucchini Boats stuffed with lamb

Zucchini Boats stuffed with Lamb

Yield: 2 entrée servings or 4 side dish portions

Ingredients:

1 extra-large zucchini, cut in half lengthwise

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 pound ground lamb

Kosher salt to taste

ground black pepper to taste

1 tsp. ground coriander

1/2 tsp. allspice

1 tsp. dried mint, crushed, optional

2 Tbsp. tomato paste, diluted in ¼ cup water

1/4 cup pine nuts
2 cups (or 1-16 ounce can) diced tomatoes with the juice (for baking) – divided

Garnish options: 1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese – or – 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F.

Zucchini scooped using a grapefruit spoon which has sharp, jagged edges.

2. Using a spoon, melon baller, or grapefruit spoon, remove the seeds of each zucchini half; discard seeds. Carefully scoop out some of the pulp from the zucchini, leaving about a half-inch shell. Finely chop zucchini pulp and set aside until ready to cook.

Ground lamb from Heather Ridge Farms

3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic in hot oil until tender, about 5 minutes. Add ground lamb; cook, stirring often, until lamb is no longer pink, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess lamb grease. Stir in chopped zucchini pulp and diluted tomato paste to the lamb mixture.
NOTE: I had a leftover grilled tomato and red pepper, so I took the liberty of adding those to the filling, too!

Lamb filling for zucchini boats

Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer mixture until the zucchini begins to soften
about 3 minutes. Season mixture with salt, black pepper, ground coriander, allspice and
dried mint, if using.
4. Remove skillet from heat. add pine nuts to lamb mixture. Spoon mixture into the zucchini halves.

Ready to bake.

5. Pour one cup of the diced tomatoes and some juice into a baking dish to coat the bottom. Place the stuffed zucchini halves on top of the tomatoes in the baking dish. Pour the rest of the tomatoes and juice over the zucchini halves.

6. In a preheated oven, bake, covered with foil, for 30- 35 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake another 10 minutes, or until zucchini is tender and tops are golden brown.

Optional Garnishes: Crumbled Feta cheese -or- Parmesan cheese.

If using either of these options, bake zucchini boats for 30 – 35 minutes as stated above, then sprinkle zucchini tops with either the crumbled Feta cheese – or – Parmesan cheese; bake, uncovered another 10 minutes or until the zucchini is tender and tops are golden brown.

Serve with a side of rice or bulgur pilaf and salad to complete the meal, if desired.