This dish was inspired by 2 enormous zucchinis given to us by our neighbors. When split in half they were too large for my deep lasagna casserole dish! After reading several different recipes, I opted to try for a variation on my stuffed bell pepper recipe and the result was heavenly. Granddaughters 4 and 8 asked for seconds! This recipe can also be vegetarian; just omit the meat.
Ingredients:
- 4 zucchini, halved lengthwise
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 sweet onions, chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
- 1 cup short-grain white rice
- 1 (16 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained and juice reserved
- 1 cup water, or more as needed
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, or more to taste
- 1 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 3 tablespoons Chardonnay wine
- ½ (14 ounce) package little smoked sausages, diced
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease the inside of a casserole dish.
Scoop pulp from the center of each zucchini half, leaving a 1/2-inch deep shell. Chop pulp and reserve. Place zucchini shells in a pot of lightly salted water; bring to a boil. Cook until zucchini are slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Drain and arrange zucchini in bottom of prepared casserole dish.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onions and zucchini pulp until onions are softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper. Add rice and reserved juice from canned tomatoes; cook until liquid is nearly evaporated, stirring regularly, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and stir to combine.
Stir water in 1/2 cup increments into rice mixture until rice has absorbed all the water and is almost tender, 10 to 15 more minutes. Add mint, parsley, wine, and sausages; cook until heated through and rice is tender, adding additional water if needed, 5 to 10 minutes. Spoon rice mixture over zucchini halves in casserole dish.
Bake casserole in preheated oven until zucchini are tender, about 20 minutes.
Preparation time: 15 mins
Cook time: 45 mins
Total time: 1 hr
Servings: 8 – Yield: 8 servings
Nutrition:
Calories:250.8
