We are very fortunate to have such friendly neighbors. We help each other out when we can, such as when one of us goes on vacation. I water their tomatoes and collect eggs from their chickens (reward in itself!), and generally help out when I can. We also have the occasional dinner and share treats that we make.
I felt so lucky when she offered me zucchini last week, and I was thrilled to receive two giant squashes— ’stuffers,’ as I call them.
My project for the week has been to use at least one of them creatively. This is what I came up with:
Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Ingredients
- 1 large stuffable-sized zucchini
- salt
- ⅔ lb ground meat
- 1 Tbsp vegetable oil, if very lean beef
- ½ tsp white onion
- 1 jalapeño pepper, ribs removed and chopped fine
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can beans (pinto or black work best)
- 1 pkg taco seasoning
- 1 ear of corn, kernels removed
- 1 cup Mexican cheese, your preference, divided
- Cilantro, cherry tomatoes, salsa, or pico de gallo for garnish
Start by cutting the zucchini in half lengthwise and scooping out the center. Set the insides aside. Salt the zucchini halves and allow them to sit for at least 20 minutes—they will release water that you’ll want to discard. Chop the scooped pulp from the zucchini—you’ll be adding them later.
Meanwhile, brown the meat in a large skillet. If you are using very lean beef, add the oil. Once browned, push it aside in the pan and add the onion and jalapeño pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally until softened, then add the garlic. After a minute, add the taco seasoning, zucchini scoopings, and beans, stirring to incorporate. Lastly, stir in the corn and ¼ cup of cheese and cook for just another minute. Remove from heat.
Remove the water from the zucchini halves. You can use a paper towel to help absorb it.
Remove the filling from heat and fill the zucchini halves, rounding the filling over the tops. Top with remaining cheese and bake for 35-40 minutes. If you poke the zucchini with a fork, it should easily pierce. You don’t want to overcook them, because they will get mushy and collapse.
Remove from oven and garnish, if desired, and serve immediately. Serves 3-4.
