The most delicious zucchini dish from the middle east, Kousa Mahshi. Savory ground beef with rice all stuffed into a zucchini via an incredible little tool. Yes, I now am a proud owner of a zucchini corer, thanks to Amazon. It was delicious, simpl
Core zucchini and set aside. (Save middle for another recipe)
In a medium to large pot heat olive oil with onion and cook until brown. In a large bowl, combine cooked onion, beef and rice. Rice should be rinsed three times until water runs clear.
Roll small amounts of mixture in between your fingers to fit into the zucchini core. To ensure you have filled the middle, gently tap on the counter to allow mixture to fall to the other end, allowing you to add more.
Once they are all filled, set aside and make the sauce.
In the same pot, sauté onion with olive oil on low heat, careful not to brown. Add garlic and cook until just softened. Layer tomatoes on top, enough to cover the bottom.
Combine 4 cups warm water with ¼ cup tomato paste. Whisk until tomato paste has melted. Add dried mint and 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Pour over the zucchini. Cover and bring to a boil. Lower and cook on medium low heat for 45 minutes on simmer.
Remove zucchini to a serving plate. Place an immersion blender into the pot and blend up cooked tomato mixture. Season to taste and pour over the zucchini.
A variation of this made by Cherie for her family is Kousa Bil-Laban. Instead of tomatoes, the zucchini is cooked and then covered in plain yogurt, crushed garlic and salt.
