Stuffed Zucchini Bake

This recipe works great with zucchini as well as tomatoes and of course peppers! Try and buy the gray small zucchini because they are short and deep and make great boats. This recipe serves 5-6 people.

• 5 gray zucchini cut in half
• 1.5 lbs lean ground beef
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 1 cup + shredded/grated parmesan cheese
• Fresh basil leaves (2 per zucchini)
• 2 garlic cloves chopped
• 2 shallots sliced thin
• Italian seasoning
• salt and pepper to taste
• Olive oil

Cut each zucchini in half and scoop out the pulp. Discard any pulp with seeds and chop the rest to use in the filling.

Grease up the zucchini "boats" with olive oil and place 2 basil leaves in the bottom of each boat. Place zucchini single layer in a baking pan.

In 2 tablespoons olive oil, saute chopped garlic, diced shallots and zucchini pulp until soft and wilted.

Add chop meat crushing up as it cooks and keep tossing with other ingredients until meat is cooked through and crumbled. Drain excess liquid and then add 1 cup grated cheese, the seasoning and salt and pepper.

Fill each boat with meat filling and top with marinara sauce and then additional grated cheese.

Bake in 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes or until zucchini is tender.

Enjoy!