So these Italian stuffed zucchini boats are a fun way to mix it up! If you are anything like us, we are always on a mission to come up with new ideas for dinner to keep the family interested and coming back to the table. Why not carve your zucchini into a little boat and stuff it with some cheese and sauce? Genius right? Think of all the things you can call these to get the kids on board? Anything that has sauce and cheese qualifies for a pizza title in our house! wink wink This might be a stretch but try it anyway!
Stuffed zucchini boats are really easy and fun to make.
Start out by cutting the zucchini in half the long way and use a spoon to scrape out some of the flesh from the middle. The place them skin side down on a parchment lined baking sheet. Then get the cheese mixture going in a medium bowl by combining the ricotta, spinach, egg, basil, garlic and a little salt and pepper and stir it all up.
Spoon a little marinara onto the bottom of each of the boats and then top with the cheese mixture.
Sprinkle with the parmesan and panko bread crumbs and bake for 20 minutes. It may be necessary to turn the broiler on at the end to get a nice golden brown color.
Remove from the oven and serve immediately. These stuffed zucchini boats are seriously so good. Can’t wait for you to try them!
- 2 zucchinis
- 1 C spinach, stemmed and finely chopped
- ¼ C fresh basil, finely chopper + more to garnish
- 1 C low fat ricotta cheese
- 1 clove garlic, pressed
- 1 egg, beaten
- ⅓ C marinara sauce
- ¼ C grated parmesan cheese
- 2 Tbsp panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp ground pepper
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cut the ends off of each zucchini. Slice zucchini down the middle, lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out the middle (flesh) of the halved zucchinis. Place skin side down on a parchment lined rimmed baking sheet.
- In a small bowl add spinach, basil, ricotta, garlic, egg, salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly with a spoon.
- Line zucchini with marinara sauce. Divide ricotta mixture evenly between the 4 halved zucchinis. Top each zucchini boat with parmesan cheese and panko breadcrumbs.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Turn oven up to broil and allow the tops of the zucchini boats to turn golden brown, watch carefully as not to burn.
- Remove from oven, garnish with additonal chopped basil and serve immediately.
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