Stuffed Zucchini – Recipe and Cooking Method

Stuffed Zucchini – Recipe and Cooking Method

Stuffed zucchini (Mahshi Kousa) is one of the most beloved dishes across the Arab world. It is considered one of the most delicious, flavorful, and nutritious meals, packed with essential ingredients that help build and strengthen the body.

Ingredients for Stuffed Zucchini:

 

• 500 grams of ground meat

• 1 kilogram of rice

• 1/4 cup of olive oil (or about 4 tablespoons of ghee)

• 3 kilograms of fresh zucchini

• 2 kilograms of fresh tomatoes (or 1/2 cup of tomato paste)

• 1 tablespoon of black pepper

• 6 cloves of garlic, minced

• 1 tablespoon of dried mint

• 1 tablespoon of salt

How to Prepare Stuffed Zucchini:

First, let's prepare the stuffing. Place the rice in a bowl and rinse it well with cold water. Add a little salt, then cover the rice with about 1 liter of warm water and let it soak for about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, wash the zucchinis thoroughly. Trim the tops carefully and evenly. Lightly dip the cut tops in salt. Then, gently and patiently hollow out the zucchinis, being careful not to tear the skins.

Wash the tomatoes well, chop them, and add a tablespoon of salt. Place them over low heat for about 30 minutes until they soften. Once cooked, strain the tomato mixture into a deep bowl to prepare the cooking sauce.

In another bowl, mix a little minced garlic with some salt, a tablespoon of dried mint, and about three cups of water.

After hollowing out all the zucchinis, rinse them again and clean their interiors thoroughly. Submerge the zucchinis briefly in the garlic and mint solution to cleanse and season them. Then, place them upside down in a colander to drain thoroughly.

Rinse the soaked rice again with cold water and drain it well. Add the ground meat, black pepper, and salt to the rice, and mix thoroughly. Drizzle in the quarter cup of olive oil and stir to coat the mixture evenly.

Now, begin stuffing the zucchinis. Fill each zucchini about three-quarters full to allow space for the rice to expand during cooking. Close the opening of each zucchini with a small piece of grape leaf to keep the stuffing in place.

Arrange the stuffed zucchinis neatly in a cooking pot. Place a heavy plate on top to hold them down during cooking.

Pour the strained tomato sauce over the stuffed zucchinis in the pot, enough to cover them partially. Set the pot over low heat and allow the dish to cook gently until the zucchinis are tender and fully cooked.

Once done, carefully transfer the stuffed zucchinis to a large serving dish.

Serve hot and enjoy this hearty, traditional dish!