In Chile, there are two classic ways to do Zucchini boats: a Vegetarian one with cheese and this one with ground beef and rice. You can also fill it with the same mixture: bell peppers, onions, and eggplants. They are delicious.
The Zucchini boats, which contained ground beef and rice, were introduced to Chile by the significant immigration of Palestinians in the 1900s.
Why are zucchini sometimes bitter, and what can I do?
The zucchini turns bitter when the plant is stressed due to lack of water or high heat. As it is impossible to know the conditions of the plant's cultivation, I recommend always trying the zucchini raw; if bitter, discard it.
In general, with the adoption of drip irrigation, the bitter squash problem has dramatically diminished.
Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of canned ones?
Yes, no problem. Two medium tomatoes should do.
Can I cook the zucchini in the microwave instead of in water?
Yes, wash the zucchini, prick it with a fork around it about six times, and cook for 3 minutes on high power. Be careful. They will be hot.
I generally make this recipe when I have rice leftovers, so it is not so laborious.
Other traditional Chilean recipes with Zucchini:
- Zucchini tortilla (frittata)
- Zucchini Casserole (Pastel de Zapallitos)
- Cream of Zucchini Soup (Sopa de Zapallitos)
Other recipes popular in Chile with ground beef:
- Fricandela Chilean burger patty
- Ground beef and eggs scramble (Huevos con carne molida)
- Empanadas de Pino (Chilean ground beef empanadas)
- Pastel de choclo
- Pastel de papas
Zucchini Boats with ground beef and rice
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6
- Category: Main dish
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Chilean
Description
A delicious way to use zucchini.
Ingredients
- 3 big zucchini
- 1 medium onion
- 500 grams of ground beef
- 1 carrot
- 1 can (411g) diced tomatoes or 2 medium tomatoes
- 1 can (411 g) tomato sauce
- 3 cups of cooked rice (white or brown)
- 6 slices of Muenster cheese or similar
- salt, oil, paprika, and pepper
Instructions
- Cook the zucchini for 5 minutes in boiling salted water (or in the microwave, see instructions in the introduction). Cut in half lengthwise, empty the meat and seeds, and use in the filling.
- In a casserole dish that can go in the oven, pour the tomato sauce from the can and, cover the entire bottom, season with salt and pepper.
- Place the hollow-out zucchinis ready to fill.
- Preheat oven to 200C or 400F.
- Chop the carrot, the zucchini meat, and the onion into small cubes.
- In a medium skillet, heat a tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat, add the diced onion, and brown for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the ground beef and break it up with the wooden spoon, occasionally stirring for another 5 minutes until cooked and brown.
- Add the carrot, the zucchini meat, and the diced tomatoes, stir well, and add salt and pepper.
- Finally, add the rice and mix well. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Fill the zucchini with the resulting mixture, cover with a slice of cheese, and place in the oven until hot and the cheese melts about 30 minutes.
- Serve hot.
Notes
If you use eggplants, everything is done the same. With the bell peppers and the onion, peel and cut the end with the stem of the bell peppers, using a spoon to remove the seeds and clean. Cut both ends of the onion. Open a little and remove the onion's inner layers, leaving the two outermost rings. Use the chopped leftovers in the filling.
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