Zucchini Casserole with Mint and Parsley

This dish was inspired by 2 enormous zucchinis given to us by our neighbors. When split in half they were too large for my deep lasagna casserole dish! After reading several different recipes, I opted to try for a variation on my stuffed bell pepper recipe and the result was heavenly. Granddaughters 4 and 8 asked for seconds! This recipe can also be vegetarian; just omit the meat.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 45 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 251 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 cup chopped fresh parsley
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
• ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1 cup water, or more as needed
• 3 sweet onions, chopped
• 1 (16 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained and juice reserved
• 4 zucchini, halved lengthwise
• 1 cup short-grain white rice
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, or more to taste
• 3 tablespoons Chardonnay wine
• ½ (14 ounce) package little smoked sausages, diced

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease the inside of a casserole dish.

Step 2

Scoop pulp from the center of each zucchini half, leaving a 1/2-inch deep shell. Chop pulp and reserve. Place zucchini shells in a pot of lightly salted water; bring to a boil. Cook until zucchini are slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Drain and arrange zucchini in bottom of prepared casserole dish.

Step 3

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onions and zucchini pulp until onions are softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper. Add rice and reserved juice from canned tomatoes; cook until liquid is nearly evaporated, stirring regularly, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and stir to combine.

Step 4

Stir water in 1/2 cup increments into rice mixture until rice has absorbed all the water and is almost tender, 10 to 15 more minutes. Add mint, parsley, wine, and sausages; cook until heated through and rice is tender, adding additional water if needed, 5 to 10 minutes. Spoon rice mixture over zucchini halves in casserole dish.

Step 5

Bake casserole in preheated oven until zucchini are tender, about 20 minutes.