Stuffed Zapallitos: Easy recipe in 8 steps 

Welcome to Paulina Kitchen! And to a new typical recipe for Argentine cuisine. Today we are going to talk about the beloved, stuffed zucchini. A well -liked dish of grandmothers , which we like so much in this blog.

Today we are going to tell you everything necessary on the recipe for zucchini stuffed with meat , which is the most classic version of this dish, but we also leave you some different stuffing ideas.

In the end we leave you the video of Paulina and the recipe step by step, to get all the doubts. Cook!

About the stuffed zucchini

In Argentina, stuffed zucchini are an icon of family cuisine. Who did not grow seeing the grandmother, the mother or that uncle who cooks like the gods, prepare this dish? It is like a ritual, from choosing the perfect green zucchini in the greengrocer until they decide if they go with meat, with rice or with whatever in the refrigerator.

The stuffed zucchini, also known as Italian pumpkin or Zapallito Verde , are a perfect option to reuse leftovers of other meals, or even to prepare them with the filling of meat empanadas that has remained. As always, it's just a matter of being creative.

The zucchini stuffed with meat are the most popular, but there are other options such as the vegetarian version with Quinoa or with rice , or can also be done with ricota, or chicken and even with an improvised mixture of what is in the refrigerator. It all depends on the day, the mood and, let's be sincere, on the budget .

Zapallitos stuffed with meat: a classic of Argentine households

The meat is a basic in Argentine cuisine, and the zucchini stuffed with minced meat are a logical extension of that. It's as if we said: "Well, we have meat, we have zucchini ... what if we mix them?"

But it's not just that. This dish is also an example of the Argentine ability to combine the fresh with the forceful . The stuffing zucchini is, at the same time, light and comforting , and that duality makes a favorite at the home table.

In addition, stuffed zucchini have that vibes of "homemade food." The smells that leave the oven while brown are one of those who fill the house and bring memories of family gatherings. It is a recipe that speaks of home , tradition and how with simple ingredients something wonderful can be done.

7 features we love from the stuffed zucchini recipe

1. Absolute versatility : The zucchini are a blank canvas. They can be done with meat, but also vegetarian stuffed zucchini or mixing different types of cheese. The options are multiple.
2. Easy to adapt: In the stuffed zucchini recipe you can play with condiments and ingredients according to what we have in the refrigerator.
3. Plider: With a few zucchini and a little filling, we have food for many .
4. Simple cooking: No complicated techniques are needed. The stuffed zucchini are so easy to do , that even the most inexperienced can achieve something worthy.
5. Economic: Ideal for those days when you have to do magic with the budget.
6. Complete dish: proteins, vegetables and carbohydrates , all in a single bite.
7. Freezable: stuffed zucchini are perfect to make more and include in the Mealprep weekly menu .

3 ways to cook the zucchini to make them fillings

• Boiled: Some prefer to boil them about 8/10 minutes before filling them so that they are tender and do not burn in the oven. The problem is that when long liquid starts in this type of cooking, they can soften too much .

• Baked: Another option is to bake them, so that they soften a little without starting so much water. In that case with about 10 minutes from oven to 180 ° it can be sufficient. The same, it is always better to check the consistency before cutting. You can bake whole or in halves .

• To the microwave: in this way the cooking is more controlled and with less liquid . It is important to make holes to the zucchini, with the help of a knife or fork, to leave the steam. In this way around 5/7 minutes are cooked , checking halfway.

VARIANTS OF VERDE BROTHHORS

Although the most classic are the zucchini stuffed with minced meat , creativity has no limits:

• Rice and cheese: vegetarian option of stuffed zucchini.
• Shredded chicken : ideal to take advantage of leftovers .
• Quinoa or lentils: for a healthier and more healthy .
• Sauteed vegetables: with caramelized onion , roasted peppers and caramelized carrots .
• Mix of cheeses and ricota: because everything is better with cheese, even the stuffed zucchini!
• Sober of the previous day: Perfect to innovate and not spend more .

8 tips for perfect stuffed zucchini

1. Choose firm and fresh zucchini: this is key so that it does not disarm when it is cooked.
2. Do not pass with the previous cooking: whatever the cooking method, the zucchini must be " al dente ". Because they continue to cook in the oven and do not want them to disintegrate.
3. Large gaps: when they have not afraid of making a good space for the filling. Always taking care that they do not break. Clear.
4. Do not throw the pulp: the zucchin's pulp is part of the filling, do not think of discarding it!
5. Key seasoning: salt, pepper, nutmeg and some extra touch such as paprika or ground chili, for very tasty stuffed zucchini.
6. Surprise in the background: a cube of cheese, dehydrated tomatoes or some nuts , can be some ideas to surprise diners.
7. Compact filling: it is important to compact the filling with the help of a spoon, so that it does not disarms in the oven. A little breadcrumbs can help too.
8. Cheese cover: gratin are always richer. The last minutes can be done in the lower part of the oven to brown the cheese more.

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Stuffed Zapallitos Recipe

Yields: 4 portions

Preparation time: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Ingredients for the recipe of zapallitos stuffed with meat

• 4 Round Zapallitos 
• ¼ kg. of minced meat
• 1 onion
• 1 piece of chili pepper
• 1 garlic clove
• ½ cup of tomato puree or 2 chopped tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon of paprika
• 250 g of cheese (mozzarella or any cheese that melts well)
• 1 tablespoon of breadcrumbs
• 1 homemade or ½ dehydrated broth bucket (optional)
• 1 handful of olives (optional)
• 1 dry tomato or nuts (optional, to surprise in the filling)

How to do stuffed sides step by step

1. Take an oven source, preheated at 180 °, and cook until the cheese is slightly gratin. About 15/20 minutes. Serve very hot!
2. Cook the Zapallitos in the microwave about 5/7 minutes, clicking them a little so that they do not inflate and check in the middle of the cooking. You can also cook a few minutes in the oven. In all cases they must be cooked but not too soft, because they break.
3. Chop the onion, bell and garlic. Sate in oil until the onion is transparent.
4. Incorporate the minced meat into the sofrito. Stiring until the meat is well separated and linked with vegetables. Add the broth, tomato and paprika and cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reserve and let cool.
5. Once the zucchini are cold, cut a cap above or in half (as preferred) and hook them with a spoon, taking care that they do not break and reserve the pulp. 
6. Chop the zapallitos pulp and mix it with the meat filling together with chopped olives (if used) and mix well.
7. Place one or two pieces of cheese inside each hollowed zucchini and fill with the meat mixture. First fill the background (crush) and then a good spoonful above. They have to be loaded.
8. Add, on top of each zucchini, a piece of cheese and sprinkle with a little breadcrumbs.  

Recipe vegetarian stuffed zucchini

With rice and vegetables

1. Cook the whole zucchini for about 10 minutes.
2. Let them cool, cut them in half and hollow them with a spoon. If the center is not cooked, do not worry, because we will cook it with the vegetables.
3. Cut the vegetables (no matter the size, because we will crush them) and sauté them in a little oil over low heat along with the meat of the zucchini we have. They have to be well cooked.
4. Let the vegetables cool and crush them until a soft paste is left . Salpimentar.
5. Mixing the crushed vegetables with the rice, there will be a kind of creamy paste.
6. Fill with this the zucchini.
7. Spread the breadcrumbs and a splash of oil, this will make them golden above.
8. Bake or gratin until golden brown. You can put cheese on top too. They are ready!

This is the stuffed zucchini