Detailed step -by -step recipe with photo: Step 1
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Prepare the ingredients. Choose young zucchini with thin skin and soft seeds. Wash vegetables under running water, dry with a towel. Prepare minced meat: if you use homemade, twist the meat through a meat grinder. If desired, add onion for juiciness.
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Step 2
Prepare zucchini. Choose young zucchini medium sizes (it is better not too thin and not too overripe, with delicate skin and dense flesh). Wash the zucchini under running water, dry with a towel. Cut each zucchini along in half to make the “boats” blanks. With the help of a teaspoon or knife, carefully remove the core with seeds, leaving the walls about 0.5–1 cm thick so that the boats are kept in shape when baking.
Do not throw out the pulp — chop it with cubes, it will come in handy for the filling with minced meat and vegetables.
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How to freeze zucchini for the winter: 4 proven ways
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Step 3
Peel the carrots with a vegetable processing, removing the thin layer of the peel, and cut the tips. Cut the carrots with small cubes or grate on a large grater — the choice depends on whether you want juicy pieces or softer texture in the dish.
Peel the onion of the husk, cut off the tails. Cut it with small cubes or thin half rings: the cubes will give the dish a more saturated taste, and the half -rings — light sweet and softness.
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Step 4
Heat the pan over medium heat, pour in 1 tbsp. l. oils. Put the chopped onions, fry 3-4 minutes to transparent. Add carrots, prepare another 3-4 minutes until it becomes soft.
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Step 5
To the already fried vegetables (onions, carrots, pepper), pour the pulp of the zucchini chopped with cubes, which was taken out of the «boat» in advance. Gently mix with a wooden spatula so that the pieces are distributed evenly. Stew vegetables over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring periodically. During this time, the zucchini will let the juice and become softer, connecting to the aromas of other vegetables.
Make sure that the vegetables do not burn: if the liquid is quickly evaporated, you can add 2-3 tablespoons of hot water or vegetable broth. It is important not to digest zucchini so that the pieces retain the shape and light elasticity.
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Step 6
Add minced meat to vegetables, salt and pepper. Fry 7-8 minutes, stirring periodically until the minced meat changes the color and becomes crumbly. At the end, add chopped garlic. Mix.
Tip: For a more satisfying option, you can add boiled rice at this step.
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Step 7
Prepare tomato sauce. In a separate pan or deep pan, connect tomato paste, water (or broth), a little salt, pepper and seasonings. Bring to a boil and simmer for 7-10 minutes over low heat, until the sauce is slightly thickened and becomes aromatic.
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Step 8
Lubricate the baking dish with oil. Put the boats. Put the prepared meat filling in each boat of zucchini, slightly tamping with a spoon so that the minced meat rests inside. Pour tomato sauce from above. Cover the shape with foil and put in the oven preheated to 180 ° C. Bake the zucchini with minced meat in sauce for 40 minutes.
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Step 9
5 minutes before the readiness to remove the foil, sprinkle zucchini with grated cheese and return to the oven for another 10 minutes at 200 ° C so that the cheese melts and covers the dish with a golden crust.
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Step 10
Baked zucchini with minced meat in the sauce are ready. Remove the shape of the oven, let the dish stand for 5 minutes so that the juices are evenly distributed. Gently transfer zucchini to plates, pour the sauce on top.
The zucchini-boots are incredibly juicy and beautiful: a delicate vegetable base, filled with fragrant minced meat with vegetables, is covered with tomato sauce and appetizing cheese crust on top. When serving, the boats retain the shape, easily cut with a fork, and the filling remains juicy and saturated. This dish will become a bright decoration of any table!
Bon appetit!
📌 Other recipes made of zucchini with minced meat, see 👉🏻 HERE
