Monday, September 22, 2014

Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats

First things first.....my blog has been falling apart!  The summer actually showed up and I've been selfishly enjoying it and slacking on the home cooking.  Working on getting back on the ball so we can head into the fall and then holiday season armed with some Hart Healthy dishes! That said, I'm hanging on for dear life to summer so tonight I made one of my season favorites. Zucchini as a substitute for a taco shell?  Yes, please!  Gina over at Skinnytaste hit the spot with this recipe!


Source: Skinnytaste

Ingredients:

  • 4 medium (32 ounces) zucchinis, cut in half lengthwise
  • 1/2 cup mild salsa
  • 1 lb 93% lean ground turkey
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp kosher salt, or to taste
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 small onion, minced
  • 2 tbsp bell pepper, minced
  • 4 oz can tomato sauce
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 cup reduced fat Mexican blend shredded cheese
  • 1/4 cup chopped scallions or cilantro, for topping
**  I also added a pinch of cayenne just for a little heat.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Place ¼ cup of salsa in the bottom of a baking dish.  Using a small spoon or melon baller, hollow out the center of the zucchini halves, leaving 1/4-inch thick shell on each half. Chop the scooped out flesh of the zucchini in small pieces and set aside 3/4 of a cup to add to the taco filling, (squeeze excess water with a paper towel) discarding the rest or save to use in another recipe. 

Brown turkey in a large skillet, breaking up while it cooks. When no longer pink add the spices and mix well. Add the onion, bell pepper, reserved zucchini, tomato sauce and water. Stir and cover, simmer on low for about 20 minutes. 

Using a spoon, fill the hollowed zucchini boats dividing the taco meat equally, about 1/3 cup in each, pressing firmly. Top each with 1 tablespoon of shredded cheese. Cover with foil and bake 35 minutes until cheese is melted and zucchini is cooked through. Top with scallions and serve with salsa on the side.

Yield: 4 servings  (2 halves)
Nutrition info per serving: 286 calories,  12 g fat, 18 g carbs,  28 g protein