Stuffed Zucchini (Kousa Mahshi)

🛒 Ingredients

• Zucchini (Kousa) 200 g · 34 kcal
• Ground Lamb (lean) 50 g · 125 kcal
• Medium Grain Rice (cooked) 75 g · 98 kcal
• Tomato Paste 10 g · 8 kcal
• Fresh Mint 1 g · 0 kcal
• Dried Mint 0 g · 2 kcal
• Allspice 0 g · 1 kcal
• Garlic (minced) 4 g · 6 kcal
• Onion (finely diced) 15 g · 6 kcal
• Olive Oil 5 g · 45 kcal
• Canned Diced Tomatoes 70 g · 14 kcal
• Lemon Juice 10 g · 3 kcal
• Water (absorbed/in sauce) 58 g · 0 kcal

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. Carefully core the zucchinis, leaving a thin shell. Set aside the scooped-out flesh for another use or discard.
2. Prepare the filling by combining ground lamb, cooked rice, finely diced onion, minced garlic, tomato paste, fresh mint, allspice, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
3. Loosely stuff the zucchini with the prepared filling, leaving about an inch of space at the top as the rice will expand during cooking.
4. Arrange the stuffed zucchinis snugly in a large pot. In a separate bowl, whisk together canned diced tomatoes, remaining tomato paste, dried mint, lemon juice, and water to create the cooking sauce.
5. Pour the sauce over the zucchinis until they are almost fully submerged. Add a tablespoon of olive oil, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer covered for 60-75 minutes, or until zucchinis are tender and rice is cooked through.
6. Serve hot, optionally garnished with extra fresh mint or a squeeze of lemon.