This is a favorite in my house and I get requests for the recipe often:
Zucchini Grande Ole
Zucchini Grande Ole
First, test texture of zucchini; if skin and flesh pierce easily with the tip of a sharp knife, it's good for cooking.
1 large (2- to 2 ½ lb., 13- to 14-inch long, and fairly straight) zucchini, tested for cooking, preceding
½ pound lean ground beef
1 small (6 oz.) onion, chopped
1 small (about 6 oz.) red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped
1 tablespoon chili powder
½ teaspoon ground cumin
1 can (4 oz.) diced green chilies
1 can (8 oz.) corn, drained [or 1 ½ ears cooked kernels, removed from cob]
1 can (8 oz.) Mexican-style stewed tomatoes [or Italian style]
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro (coriander) [or parsley]
¼ cup fine dry bread crumbs
½ cup shredded jack cheese [or cheddar]
Cilantro sprigs
Cut zucchini in half lengthwise. Scoop out and discard soft, seedy center. Scoop out enough flesh to make a ½-inch-thick zucchini shell. Coarsely chop flesh and reserve. Place squash, cut side up, in a 10 x 15-inch baking pan.
Meanwhile, in a 10- to 12-inch frying pan over high heat, frequently stir beef, onion, and bell pepper until meat is crumbled and browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain off and discard fat. Mix into pan the chili powder, cumin, chilies, corn, tomatoes, and reserved chopped zucchini. Boil on high heat, uncovered, until most of the liquid evaporates, about 5 minutes; stir often. Mix in chopped cilantro, bread crumbs, and half the cheese. Spoon all filling equally into zucchini shells in pan.
Bake in a 350° oven until zucchini is soft when pierced [this is very important] and filling is hot in center, 30 to 40 minutes. Sprinkle filling with remaining cheese; bake until cheese browns lightly, 10 to 15 minutes longer. With wide spatula, put zucchini on a platter. Garnish with cilantro sprigs. Cut into wide slices. Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Per serving: 209 cal. (40% from fat); 13 g protein; 9 g fat (2.2 g sat); 22 g carbs; 491 mg sodium; 31 mg chol.