Healthy Kousa Mahshi
Prepared with fresh squash, lean meat, and aromatic veggies and herbs sinking in tomato sauce, this healthy Kousa Mahshi recipe is a highlight of a heartwarming plate. Its fans are both the young and the old, making it the ideal fir for anytime of the year.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup sushi rice (Calrose)
- 10 ounces 96/4 lean ground beef
- 14 small zucchini squash/Mexican squash
- 1½ cans tomato sauce 15-ounce cans
- 4 cups water
- 1½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1½ teaspoons onion powder
- 1 tablespoon 7 spice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- 1½ tablespoons dried mint divided
- ½ tablespoon coriander powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon bullion powder
- 6 cloves garlic
- ¼ cup parsley
- ¼ of green onion greens
- 2 small Roma tomatoes
- 1½ cups zucchini cores after squeezing the water out
Instructions
- Wash the rice in cold water until the water runs clear, about 3 times.
- Soak it in room temp water for 30 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Cut the ends of the zucchini and core them until thin, but not pierced. Save the core.
- Transfer the cores to paper towels or a cheese cloth and squeeze out all the liquid.
- To a food processor, add the garlic, tomatoes, green onions and parsley. Process until finely chopped.
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl, and add 1.5 cups of the zucchini cores along with all the seasonings, only adding 1 tablespoon of the dried mint.
- Add the drained rice and the ground beef and mix well.
- Stuff the zucchinis equally, and layer them in your pot.
- Add the hot water, and let it boil for 10 minutes before simmering on low heat for 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes are done, add the tomato sauce and remaining dried mint.
- Adjust for salt, and let them simmer for another 10 minutes or so before serving.
Notes
- Select firm and fresh zucchinis that are of similar size for even cooking. Look for zucchinis with smooth skin and vibrant color.
- When hollowing out the zucchinis, use a small spoon or a zucchini corer to carefully remove the flesh without damaging the outer shell.
- Place the stuffed zucchinis in a relatively large pot so that they have enough room to simmer perfectly. Also, make sure they are placed close together. This prevents them from toppling over during cooking.
- Serve the stuffed zucchini with a side dish of Greek yogurt or a simple salad such as Fattoush or Cucumber Yogurt Salad | Khiyar Bi Laban.
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