Halal Iraqi Stuffed Zucchini Dolmas Recipes

IRAQI STUFFED ZUCCHINI (COUSA MASHI)

Steps:

• Wash and hollow out baby zucchini's cutting tops off where the stems grow. Put all together in a large pot. Discard innards.
• Cut tops off bell peppers and remove seeds and membrane. Add to pot including tops. Discard innards.
• Mix ground beef (CW rinses and drains), white Basmati rice, chopped onion, chopped flat leaf parsley, sea salt, to taste & baharat.
• Stuff each vegetable until just about full pressing lightly to make sure there are no air pockets. If you press to hard the result will be too dry.
• Cork each vegetable with stem end cutting to fit if too large. Return each.
• vegetable to the pot in as even a layer as possible.
• Keep remaining filling to side as it will be used in the sauce.
• Add tomato paste to some water and mix (whisk works best) until no lumps remain. Add to pot along with more water until just over top of the vegetables, Add some extra bahrat spice mix to taste, sea salt, and bring to the boil.
• Cover and cook until partially done adding remaining filling (it shouldn't be a lot) to the surrounding liquid so that once cooked it will form a sauce not a dry rice dish. So if needed add more water/sea salt. Boil/simmer until done.
• Remove vegetables and arrange on a large platter, spoon sauce around.
• Enjoy!

MIDDLE EASTERN-STYLE DOLMA (STUFFED VEGETABLES)

Steps:

• Combine ground beef, 2 1/2 cans of tomato paste, parsley, green onion, butter, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
• Before adding uncooked rice, rinse until water runs clear; this keeps the rice from becoming sticky. Add rice after rinsing and mix contents until blended well.
• Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil; add cabbage. Boil until just tender enough to fold, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, hollow out bell peppers, eggplants, and zucchini.
• Stuff hollowed vegetables with meat mixture. Set in a large pot (pack vegetables together so there isn't much room in between them). Fill cabbage leaves with 3 to 4 tablespoons of leftover meat mixture and set in the pot with the other vegetables. Pour water in the pot on top of the vegetables until almost covered. Stir in remaining tomato paste. Weigh down the food by placing a heavy, heat-proof plate on top.
• Bring water to a boil; reduce heat to medium and cover the pot. Let cook for 1 hour. Drain half of the water in the pot (leave heavy plate until done cooking) and recover, reducing heat to a simmer, and allow to slow cook for 1 hour more. Serve warm and enjoy!

STUFFED ZUCCHINI - ZUCCHINI RIPIENI

Steps:

• Cut ends off zucchini and trim to same length, wash and drain.
• Boil in lightly salted water for 10 minutes or until half cooked, drain and cool (you may dip in ice water to help cool).
• Slice in half lengthwise and scoop pulp into a colander to drain a little.
• Leave about 1/4 inch thick walls in the zucchini, make them like a boat.
• In a bowl mix pulp, ham, parsley, basil, breadcrumbs, eggs and all of the parmesan except 2 tablespoons.
• Add nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste, stir well (I only use about 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg, but use to your taste, or leave out).
• In a saucepan melt 1/4 C of the butter, stir in the flour, gradually stir in milk and stir over low heat until it has thickened and is bubbly.
• Gradually stir sauce into zucchini mixture, add more bread crumbs if mixture is not thick enough to spoon.
• Useing a spoon fill zucchini shells with the mixture and arrange themm side by side in a shallow buttered baking dish.
• Sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese and bake at 350 for 1/2 hour, serve hot.
• For an added touch mix 2 or 3 tablespoons of finely grated mozzarella cheese with the 2 tablespoons of parmesan then sprinkle on top.