Monday, August 23, 2010

Sunday's Recipes - Zucchini Cups

I have to give props to Kalyn's Kitchen for this recipe!  It was so easy and super delicious!  Kalyn's photos are better than mine!


Meat, Tomato, and Mozzarella Stuffed Zucchini Cups
(Adapted from a recipe created by Kalyn)

2 large zucchini or yellow squash, about 12 inches long
2 tsp. + 2 tsp. olive oil
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
2 T finely minced fresh garlic
1 lb. ground beef (10% fat or less)
2 C diced tomato
1 can tomato sauce
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Season All, salt and pepper to taste
2 cups low-fat mozzarella or other mild white cheese

Preheat oven to 350F. Heat 2 tsp. olive oil in a non-stick pan and saute onion and garlic minced garlic until soft - don't burn your garlic!  Add diced tomato and continue to saute.
 
Crumble in the ground beef and cook over medium heat until the meat is well browned. Add tomato sauce and simmer until the mixture has thickened and liquid has cooked off, about 10 minutes, then turn off heat.

While meat cools, cut zucchini into 2 inch thick slices, discarding ends. Use a sharp spoon or melon baller to hollow out a cup in each zucchini slice, leaving just over 1/4 inch of zucchini flesh. Be careful not to cut through the bottom of the zucchini or they'll leak! 

Spray baking sheet or casserole dish with nonstick spray and stand up zucchini cups, open end up. Stir 1 1/2 cups grated cheese into the cooled meat mixture (it doesn't need to be completely cool), then spoon the meat-cheese mixture into zucchini cups, pressing down with the spoon and mounding it up a little over the top of the zucchini.

Bake zucchini cups for 20 minutes, then remove from oven and crumble mozzarella cheese on top of each zucchini cup generously. Place in oven and cook for another 10-15 minutes until the zucchini is slightly soft when pierced with a fork and cheese is melted and lightly browned. 
 
Thanks Kalyn!  They were delicious!

1 comment:

  1. I really did enjoy this recipe! Plus you made stuffed sweet peppers with rice and beef in them that were awesome! So good! Two Thumbs up!

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