Best Spinach Stuffed Zucchini One Of Paulas Recipes

PASTA SHELLS WITH ZUCCHINI & SPINACH

Steps:

• FILLING: Melt butter over medium heat in a large, heavy dutch oven.
• Add onions& garlic; cook until onions are tender& wilted, stirring occasionally.
• PREPARE ZUCCHINI: Wash well, taste a bit of the skin from each& peel only if it tastes bitter.
• Grate& place in a colander in the sink.
• sprinkle with about 2 tsps of salt& let excess liquid drain for 30 minutes.
• Rinse with cold water to remove most of the salt& then toss on a clean tea towel (or paper towels) to dry before cooking.
• Add drained zucchini to dutch oven& cook until any moisture evaporates.
• PREPARE SPINACH: Wash well& trim off tough stems.
• Place leaves, with water from washing still clinging to them, in a large pot.
• Cook for a few minutes or just until leaves have wilted.
• Let cool, then wring dry in a clean tea towel& chop.
• Add spinach to the dutch oven and combine thoroughly.
• Remove from heat& allow the mixture to cool.
• Drain off excess liquid.
• Beat eggs in a medium sized bowl; add ricotta& beat until smooth.
• Add Parmesan and seasonings; mix well.
• Combine with vegetable mixture in the dutch oven, mix thoroughly; set aside.
• SAUCE: Melt butter in large, heavy pot; cook onions& garlic until tender and wilted.
• Add tomatoes, including their liquid, breaking up the tomatoes with a wooden spoon.
• Cook for 30- 45 minutes or until sauce has thickened.
• Purée and test for seasonings.
• Set aside.
• Pasta: Cook shells in a large pot of salted water, according to package directions until"el dente".
• Drain well and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and prevent sticking.
• Using a colander, gently shake shells to drain excess water.
• Lightly grease a 13 x 9 inch casserole dish.
• Spoon some of the filling into each shell& arrange, stuffed side up, in the casserole dish.
• Pour sauce over the shells& sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• (If you can only find small shells, just layer them on the bottom of the casserole dish, cover with a layer of filling, a layer of sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan).
• Bake at 350°F for 40-50 minutes or until heated through and bubbling.

SPINACH STUFFED SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Brush cut side of squash with olive oil; sprinkle with 1/4 tsp salt and the pepper.
• Place squash, cut side down, on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Bake 15 minutes or until tender.
• Scoop out pulp, keeping shells intact; reserve pulp.
• Reduce heat to 350 degrees.
• In a large skillet, melt butter over med heat.
• Add onion; cook 5 minutes or until tender.
• Stir in spinach and squash pulp; cook 3 to 4 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed.
• Remove from heat; stir in stuffing mix, cheese, sour cream and remaining salt.
• Spoon mixture evenly into squash shells.
• Place on the baking sheet, bake 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through.
• Serve immediately.

MUSHROOM AND SPINACH STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Slice the zucchini in half lengthwise and, using a small spoon, scoop out the insides of the zucchini to leave a fillable shell.
• Set aside.
• In a skillet, saute the onions, garlic, and salt in the oil on low heat, stirring often, until the onions soften.
• Add the mushrooms, dill, sherry, and soy sauce and cook for about 5 minutes more.
• When the mushrooms are just tender, remove from the heat and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350*F.
• While the mushrooms are cooking, rinse and stem the spinach.
• In a saucepan, steam the spinach leaves in enough water to cover until wilted but still bright green.
• Drain and add it to the sauteed vegetables.
• Stir in the rice and add salt and pepper to taste.
• Pour the tomato juice evenly around the bottom of an unoiled 8x12" glass or nonreactive baking dish.
• Press and mound 1/6 of the filling into each zucchini shell and arrange them in the baking dish.
• Sprinkle on the grated cheese, cover the pan tightly with foil, and bake for about 30 minutes, until the zucchini are tender and easily pierced with a fork.
• Uncover and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, until the tops are browned.

SPINACH-STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Trim off ends of zucchini, cook whole in boiling water 10-12 minutes. Drain thoroughly, halve lengthwise and scoop out centers; chip centers and add to spinach. In saucepan blend flour and milk, add spinach mixture. Cook and stir until thick.
• Place zucchini halves in shallow baking dish, sprinkle with salt, spoon spinach mixture into shells. Top with cheese and bacon Bake in 350 oven 15-20 minutes.