This stuffed zucchini is given a Greek-inspired flair, with Kalamata olive, feta cheese and fresh herbs. The perfect summertime side dish!
This version of stuffed zucchini is purely vegetarian and functions well as a side dish. However, it could easily be made into an entree with the addition of beans, sausage, or ground turkey or beef. The use of brown rice in the stuffing increases the fiber count and health benefits of the dish. The rice is flavored with sautéed garlic, feta cheese, dried chile flakes, fresh mint and basil, and chopped kalamata olives to produce a stuffing that is savory with a kick.
Just when you think it is safe to rifle through your vegetable garden, another massive zucchini makes its appearance. This prolific squash takes no prisoners. It is the bully of the vegetable garden, growing atop any delicate tomato or herb plant that dares to grow in its path. I am doing my best to keep ahead of this year's crop by including zucchini in every stir-fry or salad that hits our plates, baking them on puff pastry, grilling and rolling them with goat cheese, and pureeing them with coconut milk for a silky soup. The battle is on.
After using up the entire huge zucchini in one go for this recipe, I dare to say that the score is Dara - 1, garden bully - 0.
How to make stuffed zucchini:
In a medium saucepan, combine brown rice, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and cook until all the water is absorbed, about 45 minutes. Fluff the rice and set aside.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Use either 1 very large or 2 medium zucchini. Cut the zucchini in half lengthwise. If using 1 large zucchini, cut each piece in half crosswise. Using a small spoon, scoop out and reserve the zucchini flesh, leaving ½-inch of the zucchini on all sides.
Finely chop the zucchini flesh and place in a medium bowl. Stir in ¼ teaspoon salt. Let stand 15 minutes to release moisture. Spoon the zucchini flesh into a double layer of paper towel and squeeze to release the liquid.
Sprinkle the zucchini shells with a pinch of salt each. Let stand for 15 minutes to release the moisture. Using a paper towel, blot out the moisture.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add 2 garlic cloves, chopped and saute for 30 seconds. Add the zucchini flesh and ½ teaspoon red chile flakes and cook, stirring, until the zucchini just begins to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup cooked brown rice, 8 finely chopped fresh mint leaves, 8 thinly sliced fresh basil leaves, ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese, and ⅓ cup finely chopped kalamata olives.
Divide the rice mixture evenly amongst the zucchini shells.
Spread 2 cups of your favorite tomato sauce evenly over the bottom of a 9- by 13-inch glass baking dish. Arrange the stuffed zucchini over the tomato sauce. Brush the cut portions of each zucchini shell with olive oil. Drizzle a little olive oil evenly over the filling of each zucchini. Bake until the zucchini shells are just tender when pierced with a fork, 20 to 25 minutes.
Remove from the oven. Plate the stuffed zucchini and evenly scoop the tomato sauce across the four portions. Thinly slice 2 basil leaves and garnish the stuffed zucchini.
Greek-Inspired Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Ingredients
- ¾ cup uncooked brown rice rinsed well & drained
- 1 ½ cups cold water
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt divided
- 2 medium zucchini or 1 very large
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon olive oil divided
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- ½ teaspoon red chili flakes (more or less depending on your heat tolerance)
- 8 fresh mint leaves finely chopped
- 8 fresh basil leaves thinly sliced
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ⅓ cup finely chopped Kalamata olives
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- Extra sliced basil for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine brown rice, water, and ½ teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and cook until all the water is absorbed, about 45 minutes. Fluff the rice and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Cut the zucchini in half lengthwise. If using 1 large zucchini, cut each piece in half crosswise. Using a small spoon, scoop out and reserve the zucchini flesh, leaving ½-inch of the zucchini on all sides.
- Finely chop the zucchini flesh and place in a medium bowl. Stir in ¼ teaspoon salt. Let stand 15 minutes to release moisture. Spoon the zucchini flesh into a double layer of paper towel and squeeze to release the liquid.
- Sprinkle the zucchini shells with a pinch of salt each. Let stand for 15 minutes to release the moisture. Using a paper towel, blot out the moisture.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Add the zucchini flesh and red chile flakes and cook, stirring, until the zucchini just begins to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup cooked brown rice, mint, basil, feta cheese, and kalamata olives. Divide the rice mixture evenly amongst the zucchini shells.
- Spread tomato sauce evenly over the bottom of a 9- by 13-inch glass baking dish. Arrange the stuffed zucchini over the tomato sauce. Brush the cut portions of each zucchini shell with ½ teaspoon olive oil. Drizzle ½ teaspoon olive oil evenly over the filling of each zucchini. Bake until the zucchini shells are just tender when pierced with a fork, 20 to 25 minutes.
- Remove from the oven. Plate the stuffed zucchini and evenly scoop the tomato sauce across the four portions. Thinly slice 2 basil leaves and garnish the stuffed zucchini.
Notes
Nutrition
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Rachelle
Very tasty. I had trouble with soggy stuffed zucchini before but I followed your advice for salting and baked just 20 minutes and they were great! I added some fava beans and used oregano instead of basil. Lots of variations would work well in this recipe. Thanks from a fellow Canuck!
Maggy@ThreeManyCooks.com
These look so delicious and healthy. Love the Greek stuffing!
Magic of Spice
Wow, such great flavors, and they look gorgeous 🙂
Leslie Uhl
ALL the zucchini recipes sound delish! Works well as we have friends doing their best to harvest the nonstop zucchinis in their garden; they are happy to get rid of them!
danasfoodforthought
This sounds like a great side dish... my grandmother makes a different type of stuffed zucchini that I absolutely love, so I'll have to try this one out, too!