Zucchini Boats with Ground Beef

Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 60 min
Servings: 6
Yield: 6 servings

Description

This recipe for zucchini boats stuffs them with ground beef, onions, carrots, and savory seasonings, tops with mozzarella, and bakes until golden brown.

Ingredients

3 medium zucchini
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound ground beef
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 large carrot, grated
1 (3 1/2 fluid ounce) wine glass red wine
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup beef stock
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with foil. Fill a large bowl with ice and cold water.
2 Cut zucchini in half lengthwise; scoop out flesh with a spoon. Chop flesh; set aside about ¾ flesh for stuffing. Reserve remaining ¼ flesh for another use.
3 Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add zucchini halves; cook 4 minutes. Drain in a colander; immediately immerse in ice water to stop the cooking process, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
4 Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef; cook and stir until browned and broken into very small pieces, 5 to 7 minutes. Add rosemary, thyme, garlic, salt, and black pepper; cook and stir. Add reserved ¾ zucchini flesh, onion, and carrot; cook and stir for 2 to 3 minutes. Add red wine and Worcestershire; cook 1 to 2 minutes. Add beef stock; cook 3 minutes. Simmer until mixture reduces, about 10 minutes more.
5 Place zucchini halves into the prepared baking dish. Divide beef mixture among zucchini boats; sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
6 Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is browned and bubbly, about 30 minutes.