This zesty Stuffed Zucchini recipe is full of Italian-inspired substances like Italian turkey sausage, tomatoes, and a bathe of basil Parmesan breadcrumbs. It’s simple, fast, wholesome, and, hands-down, one in every of my favourite zucchini boat recipes of all time.
An overload of zucchini is a summer time custom that I look ahead to with gusto.
I like each the problem of making distinctive methods to organize it (hi there, Zucchini Casserole) and revisiting my absolute favourite zucchini recipes, like at this time’s stuffed zucchini. (Zucchini Fritters are subsequent on my listing.)
Regardless of your present zucchini provide scenario, this simple stuffed zucchini has you lined.
- Did you simply harvest a bounty of zucchini from your individual backyard? Higher plan on making a double batch (ditto goes for Blueberry Zucchini Bread).
- Researching stuffed zucchini recipes in anticipation that you simply’ll be gifted a surplus of zucchini (once more) out of your mother-in-law? Your work right here is completed.
- Merely want a wholesome meal thought for dinner tonight utilizing the contemporary zucchini you decide up on the farmer’s market? Look no additional (and contemplate Zucchini Pasta too)!
This wholesome stuffed zucchini recipe is an inexpensive, satisfying dish that elevates the common-or-garden zucchini right into a particular meal for any event.
5 Star Evaluation
“Everybody in our household loves this recipe. The flavors are excellent and the breadcrumbs had been completely price it. Wanting ahead to creating this all summer time”
— Evette —
Why I Love Stuffed Zucchini
Whereas there are as some ways to stuff a zucchini (hi there, Zucchini Pizza Boats), I like this specific recipe for quite a few causes.
- It’s jam-packed (actually) with Italian flavors like contemporary basil, zesty Italian sausage, and Parmesan cheese (like my favourite Italian Stuffed Peppers)
- The filling consists of different summer time produce heroes like tomatoes and bell peppers.
- The topping is solely to die for—a mixture of entire wheat breadcrumbs, olive oil, extra contemporary basil, and extra Parmesan.
To summarize, these easy zucchini boats are hearty, filled with summer time flavors, and but, gentle sufficient that you simply don’t really feel such as you’re overindulging your self.
Methods to Make Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Tacky, herby, and wholesome, they’re a dream (zucchini) boat—pun supposed.
With their mixture of lean turkey sausage, veggies each in and out, and entire grains, these wholesome stuffed zucchini boats are a super all-in-one dinner (as are these Zucchini Enchiladas).
Additionally they reheat superbly the subsequent day, so you can also make a giant batch to get pleasure from a couple of occasions all through the week.
The Substances
- Zucchini. Zucchini makes a super vessel for our delicious Italian-inspired substances (in addition they make nice Zucchini Ravioli). Plus, it’s wealthy in Vitamin-A and antioxidants. The perfect half? There’s no must peel the zucchini earlier than consuming it.
- Italian Sausage. I used floor Italian turkey sausage, and it was very best. Turkey is a lean protein, and the Italian herbs and spices added to the meat give stuffed zucchini recipes like this one (and these Grilled Stuffed Peppers) further taste.
- Purple Bell Pepper + Purple Onion. For lovely colour, extra veggies, and complexity.
- Tomato Paste. Tomato paste imparts wealthy, deep taste that tastes such as you’ve been cooking away all day.
- Basil. A contact of basil provides freshness and a style of summer time sunshine.
- Complete Wheat Bread + Parmesan. For our crispy breadcrumb topping. Because the zucchini bakes, the breadcrumbs rework right into a golden, toasty “lid” that I caught myself consuming proper off the highest of the zucchini boats earlier than I’d taken an actual chunk. (I additionally love the breadcrumb topping on this Air Fryer Zucchini!)
TIP!
The recipe does make what is going to appear to be loads of breadcrumb topping however belief me, you’re going to need it all.
The Instructions
- Put together the zucchini boat shells, and place them in a baking dish.
Methods to Hole Out Zucchini for Zucchini Boats
After reducing every zucchini in half lengthwise, you hole out zucchini as follows by eradicating each the seeds and heart flesh.
- I like to make use of the tip of a small spoon or a melon baller to first take away the seeds and discard them. Earlier within the season, small zucchini might have only a few seeds, whereas bigger, later season zucchini might have many.
- As soon as the seeds are discarded, scoop out the middle flesh. This I reserve for the zucchini filling.
- I take advantage of two fingers to grip the highest of the zucchini whereas I scoop out the flesh. When scooping, you should definitely apply sufficient stress to take away the flesh however not sufficient to chop via the underside.
- Brown the sausage, onion, and bell pepper in a skillet. Add the spices.
- Stir within the garlic and tomato paste, and add the scooped zucchini flesh.
- Put together the Parmesan basil breadcrumb topping in a meals processor.
- Stir half of the breadcrumbs into the sausage combination. Mound the zucchini shells with the sausage filling, topping each with the remaining breadcrumbs. Bake zucchini boats at 425 levels F for 13 to fifteen minutes. ENJOY!
Storage Ideas
- To Retailer. Retailer leftover stuffed zucchini in an hermetic storage container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
- To Reheat. Rewarm stuffed zucchini in a casserole dish within the oven at 350 levels F till warmed via. If the breadcrumbs begin to brown an excessive amount of, loosely tent the dish with foil. You may also reheat this recipe within the microwave.
Can You Freeze Stuffed Zucchini?
I don’t advocate freezing stuffed zucchini recipes, because the zucchini will doubtless grow to be mushy. Benefit from the leftovers inside a couple of days, or give them to pals.
What to Serve with Stuffed Zucchini
Stuffed zucchini is a good standalone meal.
It’s additionally nice when paired with one (or extra) of those tasty dishes.
- Skillet. A high-quality skillet is a necessary software in my kitchen.
- Spatula. I take advantage of this fundamental spatula ALL the time.
- Additional Massive Slicing Board. The additional house is so useful when making ready the zucchini for this recipe.
- Melon Baller. The right software for hollowing out the zucchini.
Embrace your zucchini surplus this 12 months, and make this the primary of many stuffed zucchini recipes you make this season on repeat.
Incessantly Requested Questions
Mushy baked zucchini is commonly overcooked. Keep watch over your stuffed zucchini because it bakes, and take away as soon as it’s heated via and fork tender.
No! Whereas some recipes will recommend peeling zucchini, you usually don’t wish to peel a zucchini that you simply intend to stuff. The pores and skin will assist the zucchini retain a boat-like form because it bakes. Plus, there are fantastic vitamins within the zucchini pores and skin.
Certain! Whereas I discover zucchini which can be nearer to five to six inches in size greatest by way of style, texture, and dimension (they slot in most baking dishes), you could possibly additionally make an outsized stuffed zucchini boat with this recipe too. Word that you’ll have to experiment with the prepare dinner time and filling quantity.
- 4 entire zucchini (about 5 to six inches lengthy)
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil divided
- 1/2 pound floor Italian turkey sausage casings eliminated
- 1/2 cup finely chopped purple onion
- 1 massive purple bell pepper diced
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon purple pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup packed contemporary basil leaves
- 2 slices entire wheat sandwich bread
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan plus further for serving
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Place a rack within the higher third of your oven. Preheat to 425°F.
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Halve the zucchini lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, and discard the seeds. Then, scoop out the mushy heart flesh to create shallow zucchini “shells,” with partitions about 1/2 inch thick, reserving the middle flesh. Prepare the zucchini shells in a baking dish. Roughly chop the middle flesh and set it apart.
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Warmth 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high warmth, then add the sausage, onion, and bell pepper. Utilizing a wood spoon or heatproof spatula, break aside the sausage, sautéing it along with the greens, till the onions are mushy and the sausage is browned and totally cooked, 5 to eight minutes. Stir within the salt, pepper, and purple pepper flakes.
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Add the garlic and tomato paste and prepare dinner 1 further minute, till tomato paste is damaged down and integrated. Add within the reserved zucchini flesh and warmth via for 1 minute, then take away from the warmth. Style and add further salt, pepper, or purple pepper flakes as desired.
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Toast the bread slices, then tear them into massive items and place within the bowl of a meals processor fitted with the metal blade. Add the basil and remaining tablespoon olive oil. Pulse till the bread is damaged into massive crumbs. Add the Parmesan and pulse simply till integrated, 2 or 3 occasions.
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Fold half of the basil breadcrumbs into the sausage combination. With a small spoon, mound the sausage stuffing into the shells, then sprinkle the tops of the stuffed zucchini with the remaining breadcrumbs. Roast in oven till the zucchini is heated via and the breadcrumbs are golden, 13 to fifteen minutes. Get pleasure from instantly.
- TO STORE: Retailer leftovers in an hermetic storage container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
- TO REHEAT: Rewarm stuffed zucchini in a casserole dish the oven at 350 levels F till warmed via. If the breadcrumbs begin to brown an excessive amount of, loosely tent the dish with foil. You may also reheat this recipe within the microwave.
- TIP: Grate cheese the straightforward manner! Earlier than beginning the recipe, grate a complete wedge of Parmesan cheese proper in your meals processor. Minimize the wedge into chunks, place them in a meals processor fitted with a metal blade, then pulse till floor. Measure out and put aside the 1/2 cup wanted for the recipe. Retailer the rest in your fridge for weeks. You’ll at all times have contemporary Parm readily available! Then proceed with making the stuffed zucchini, no want to scrub the processor bowl in between.
Serving: 1(of 4)Energy: 321kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 18gFats: 22gSaturated Fats: 6gLdl cholesterol: 34mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7g
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