Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Looking for a simple, seasonal recipe that brings the flavors of summer right to your table? These Stuffed Zucchini Boats are the perfect way to enjoy fresh, local ingredients in a delicious, hearty dish the whole family will love. Even better—you can find many of these ingredients right at the Thomasville Farmers Market!

Zucchini is in season and overflowing at the market, and this recipe is a great way to make use of them while keeping your meal fresh and healthy. Add in juicy cherry tomatoes, sweet onions, aromatic herbs, and your choice of locally raised beef or sausage, and you’ve got a meal that’s bursting with flavor and goodness.

Ingredients:

  • 2 large zucchinis, cut lengthwise

  • Small sweet onion

  • 2 garlic cloves

  • Fresh basil and oregano (save a few fresh basil leaves for garnish)

  • Any other savory spices of your choice

  • 1lb beef or Italian sausage

  • 2-3 cups of cherry tomatoes (or tomato of your choice cut to cut and oven-roast); this amount (can be adjusted to your preference)

  • Mozzarella cheese

  • ¼-½ cup Panko, bread crumbs or saltine crackers

  • Salt/pepper to taste

  • Olive oil

Directions for boats:

  1. Cut zucchini lengthwise and scoop out inside; save half for sautéing

  2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees

  3. Coat the inside of the squash boats with olive oil and seasonings of your choice, and place skin side down on baking sheet and bake for approximately 20 minutes until soft

  4. Brown beef/sausage and drain

  5. Sautee diced onion, garlic and half of the scooped zucchini until onions are soft

  6. Take boats out of the oven

  7. Combine beef (or sausage), two cups of mozzarella cheese, zucchini mixture and enough bread crumbs to make the mixture solid, and place in empty boats

  8. Return boats to oven for 20 minutes

  9. Take out, top with mozzarella and broil until cheese is golden (should only take 2-3 minutes)

  10. Once out of the oven, top with roasted tomatoes and basil to garnish

Directions for roasted tomatoes:

  • In a bowl, toss your tomatoes with olive oil and the seasonings of your choice

  • Place tomatoes on parchment paper (or foil) on baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes until done

Jessica Rogers