**Stuffed Zucchini Avgolemono: A Symphony of Mediterranean Flavors**
Discover the delightful fusion of Mediterranean flavors in Stuffed Zucchini Avgolemono, where tender zucchini boats are filled with a savory blend of rice, ground beef, fresh herbs, and spices, then bathed in a creamy, tangy avgolemono sauce. This delectable dish offers a harmonious balance of textures and tastes, with the soft zucchini yielding to the toothsome filling and the velvety sauce enveloping every bite. Alongside the main recipe, explore variations that cater to diverse preferences, including a vegetarian option featuring a flavorful combination of quinoa, roasted vegetables, and feta cheese. Embark on a culinary journey through the vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean with Stuffed Zucchini Avgolemono and its tempting variations.
GREEK STUFFED ZUCCHINI (KOLOKITHAKIA YEMISTA AVGOLEMONO)
A delcious way to use up loads of large zucchini. I figure one medium to large zucchini per person, per serving, depending on appetite.
Provided by evelynathens
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h40m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Cut zucchini into 1/2s or 1/3s, cored on one end (the other end is left intact) and remove filing carefully with corer so that a not-too-thick wall of zucchini remains to contain the filling, keep 1/2 the zucchini flesh removed from the coring, minced (not the shells- but the actual part of the zucchini that was removed, the other half makes a lovely omelette with a bit of parmesan for another meal!).
- You can prepare your zucchini from the previous day and keep, wrapped, in the refrigerator- this actually makes a lot less work on the day of preparation as it's the coring of the zucchini that takes up the most time.
- Mix the meats, onion, garlic, rice, parsley and zucchini in a bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Stuff this mixture into the opening of the one end of each zucchini piece and make sure the filling goes all the way into the vegetable.
- Level opening neatly so that no filling comes out.
- Layer the filled zucchini pieces in a big pot and add enough boiling water to just cover.
- Put in the stock cubes and the butter and cover.
- Simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour (knife tip should slip into a piece easily), and take off heat.
- Carefully remove the zucchini pieces with a slotted spoon and place on a reheatable serving dish.
- Strain the cooking liquid left in the pot to remove any pieces of zucchini or grains of rice that may be floating around.
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the cornstarch and lemon juice (add the juice of 1 lemon at this point).
- Slowly ladle in (literally the thinnest of streams) your hot cooking liquid, whisking the eggs all the while so they don't curdle.
- Keep doing this till nearly all the cooking liquid has been used and then pour your egg mixture and any cooking liquid left back into the pot and heat on a low flame until the sauce has thickened.
- Taste, if it needs more lemon, add up to 1/2 more.
- This is what is called an'Avgolemono Sauce' (Egg-lemon Sauce)- it is delicious.
- When ready to serve, put 2-3 piping hot pieces of the stuffed zucchini on each plate and nap with the sauce.
- Serve with feta cheese on the side (you won't believe how good a nibble of feta tastes with each bite of this!), good, crusty bread (you want to get all the sauce), and wine.
STUFFED ZUCCHINI AVGOLEMONO, GREEK WAY
Zucchini is my very favorite summer vegetable. This is a summertime favorite main meal, served hot or at room temperature. Don't forget the fresh bread to dip in the egg-lemony sauce:) Yummy! Hope you try it and enjoy it as much as we do! Kali Orexi!
Provided by Maria *
Categories Other Main Dishes
Time 1h35m
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- 1. Rinse the zucchini and cut off the stem end. Carefully cut off a slice from the other end to use later as a cap. With a grapefruit spoon or melon baller hollow out the zucchini and chop the flesh.
- 2. To make the stuffing warm ½ the olive oil in a deep frying pan and toss in the onions for 3-4 minutes. Add the finely chopped flesh of the zucchini and stir fry them for another 2-3 minutes. Finally add the minced meat and let it cook completely - (meat no longer pink). Add the rice, parsley, half of the lemon juice and salt and pepper.
- 3. Stuff the zucchini up to ¾. Do not fill them completely so the stuffing will have room to expand while cooking. Cover with the slice you cut off earlier to use as cap. Arrange them side by side in a deep saucepan and if you want fill in the gaps with the potato wedges. That's a trick I learned when my kids were young and weren't too keen on eating zucchini. So I had to find a way to intrigue them:) The deal was with every potato wedge they had to have half a stuffed zucchini. It worked so well they both love zucchini, any how it's cooked:)
- 4. Sprinkle with the remaining olive oil and add enough water to cover the zucchini just above their middle. Season to taste. Put the lid on, bring to the boil and then simmer over medium heat for about 30min until the rice has cooked and if using potatoes, til those are tender. Turn off the heat (if overcooked, the zucchini will become too soft and the rice sticky).
- 5. To make the Avgolemono (Egg-Lemon) sauce: Whisk the eggs (both whites & yolks) and then add remaining lemon juice, a little at a time, while still whisking. Slowly add a couple of ladlesful warm cooking liquid to the egg mixture. Pour the sauce over the food. Holding the casserole by its handles, shake it gently from side to side. If necessary reheat very slowly without covering or boiling. Serve immediately. Enjoy! Kali Orexi!
- 6. Tip: If you want to thicken the sauce, in a small bowl mix a couple of Tbps of cornstartch with a some water or cooled liquid from the pot. Mix well and add to the pot and then gently shake the post from side to side.
STUFFED ZUCCHINI AVGOLEMONO
Worth the effort -- try these stuffed zucchini the Greek way. Recipe found in one of my Greek Festival cookbooks
Provided by Daily Inspiration S
Categories Vegetables
Time 1h30m
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- 1. Wash and scrape squash lightly. Cut off both ends and scoup out pulp with a potato peeler to form a tube. Take care not to scrape too close to the skin. Sprink inside of squash with salt.
- 2. Saute onion and meat in the oil. Add parsley, mint leaves, tomatoes, rice, cinnamon, garlic, salt and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- 3. Allow meat mixture to cool slightly and stuff squash with meat filling and line them in a pan. Add the water and simmer for about 45 minutes.
- 4. Drain off all the liquid into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Mix flour with the cold milk, add the eggs and lemon juice and mix well. Slowly temper the milk mixture into the hot liquid a little at a time until it is thick and creamy.
- 5. Place squash in a serving dish and pour Avgolemon sauce over all. Serve immediately.
Tips and Conclusion
Tips:
- Select the right zucchini: Choose firm and medium-sized zucchini that are not too large. This will ensure that they cook evenly and do not become mushy.
- Stuffing the zucchini: When stuffing the zucchini, do not overfill them. Leave some space at the top so that the stuffing does not spill over during baking.
- Cooking the zucchini: Bake the zucchini at a high temperature (400°F or 200°C) for a short period of time (about 20 minutes). This will help to сохранить the zucchini's texture and prevent it from becoming soggy.
- Making the avgolemono sauce: To make the avgolemono sauce, whisk the egg yolks and lemon juice together in a bowl. Gradually whisk in the hot broth until the sauce thickens. Do not boil the sauce, as this will cause the eggs to curdle.
- Serving the dish: Serve the zucchini immediately, topped with the avgolemono sauce. You can also garnish the dish with fresh herbs, such as dill or parsley.
Conclusion:
Stuffed zucchini with avgolemono sauce is a delicious and healthy dish that is perfect for a main course or a side dish. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. With its vibrant flavors and textures, this dish is sure to be a hit at your next gathering.
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