Traditional Turkish Dish: Turkish Stuffed Zucchini

Kabak Dolmasi is a traditional Turkish dish made by stuffing zucchini with a mix of rice, ground beef, herbs, and spices, then cooking them in a tomato paste sauce. This Turkish version of stuffed zucchini hits so many notes of flavorful spices and herbs. They are perfect for a Mediterranean themed dinner party, especially served with yogurt.

Ingredients:
Zucchini Stuffing

▢6 Zucchini (kusa)
▢½ cup Rice, short or medium grain
▢1 small onion, chopped
▢½ cup Parsley, chopped
▢1 Green bell pepper, chopped
▢½ lb Ground beef
▢1 tbsp Tomato paste
▢¼ cup Olive oil, extra virgin
▢1 tsp Kosher salt
▢½ tsp Black pepper
▢½ tsp Aleppo pepper
▢1 tsp Dried mint
▢2 Tomatoes, sliced in chunks
Sauce
▢1 tbsp Olive oil
▢2 tbsp Tomato paste
▢1 tsp Aleppo pepper
▢1 tsp Dried mint
▢2 cups Boiling water
Serve with
▢Yogurt

Instructions:
Cut the top of the zucchini and slice off a bit of the end so they can stand. Carefully empty them using an apple corer or a small spoon.

Place the rice, onion, parsley, green bell pepper, ground beef, tomato paste, olive oil, salt, black pepper, Aleppo pepper and dried mint in a bowl and mix using a spoon or your hands. Make sure all the ingredients are well combined.
Stuff the zucchini with the filling and make sure to do it loosely and leave ½ inch empty at the top because the rice expands while cooking.
Place a chunk of tomatoes on top of each zucchini.
Place the stuffed zucchini upward standing in a pot.
To make the sauce, mix the olive oil, tomato paste, Aleppo pepper, dried mint and water in a bowl or a measuring pitcher. Pour over the zucchinis in the pot and cover.
Cover with a lid and cook over medium high heat until it comes to a simmer, this would take about 20 minutes.
Then uncover and cook for 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes. The stuffed zucchini is ready once you can easily insert a knife into the side.
Serve warm with yogurt.