Stuffed Baked Zucchini

Mom’s Stuffed Zucchini – A Classic Polish Comfort Dish

Some recipes taste like childhood. For me, one of them is Stuffed Baked Zucchini – big zucchini stuffed with ground meat and rice, slowly baked until tender, then topped with melted cheese. It was one of my mom’s specialties – a humble, comforting dish that filled the kitchen with the smell of summer gardens and Sunday dinners.

In Poland, oversized zucchinis were never wasted. When the garden produced a monster zucchini that was too big for regular cooking, it became the star of this recipe.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients:

• 1 large zucchini (the bigger, the better)
• 1 lb (450 g) ground meat (pork, beef, or a mix)
• ½ cup uncooked rice (cooked slightly al dente)
• 1 tsp sweet paprika
• 1 tsp dried marjoram
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• ½ cup grated cheese (for topping)
• ½ cup water (for baking dish)

To serve:

• Tomato sauce or… ketchup, just like my childhood

Here is a short video on how I make it:

Instructions:

1. Prepare the zucchini. Peel the zucchini and cut it in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds, creating a “boat” shape.
2. Prepare the filling. In a bowl, mix the ground meat with cooked rice, paprika, marjoram, parsley, salt, and pepper.
3. Stuff the zucchini. Fill the hollowed zucchini generously with the meat mixture.
4. Bake. Place the zucchini in a baking dish, pour a little water (about ½ cup) into the bottom to create steam
5. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for about 1.5 hours. After 1 hour sprinkle grated cheese on top, and continue baking uncovered for another 30 minutes.
6. Serve hot. We love it with tomato sauce, but if there’s none on hand… ketchup works just as well:)

A Taste of Childhood

This dish takes me right back to my mom’s kitchen – simple, filling, and full of love. In summer, when giant zucchinis appeared in the garden, she knew exactly what to do. I still make it the same way, and every bite brings a little nostalgia.

If you try this recipe, serve it with a spoonful of tomato sauce and imagine a Polish summer evening, with the smell of stuffed baked zucchini filling the house.

Smacznego!

Follow for more easy Polish recipes in English – made for the next generation of Polish home cooks around the world.

If you liked my posts and tried my recipes, you can consider buying me a coffee. Or rather I should say: you can buy me a flour for Pierogi, cabbage for Gołąbki and beets for Barszcz:) This would help me to cook more and publish more delicious recipes for You. www.buymeacoffee.com/cookinpolish.

Comment on the post if you have questions, other ideas on the recipe or just enjoyed reading. I would be happy to see your thoughts on my posts! Will you try Stuffed Baked Zucchini?

Thanks for liking and sharing my recipes to your friends – it helps to develop my blog!

Polish food recipes, sentimental Polish cuisine, only tried and true recipes, Polish American.