Dovlecei Umpluți cu Carne
Dovlecei Umpluți cu Carne (Stuffed Zucchini with Meat) is a classic Romanian dish where hollowed-out zucchini are filled with a savory mixture of ground meat, rice, and herbs, then baked in a tomato-based sauce.
🧂 Ingredients
- 6 pieces Medium zucchini
- 500 g Ground pork or mixed meat
- 100 g Rice(uncooked)
- 1 large Onion(finely chopped)
- 3 cloves Garlic cloves(minced)
- 2 tbsp Fresh dill(chopped)
- 2 tbsp Fresh parsley(chopped)
- 2 tbsp Tomato paste
- 400 g Crushed tomatoes
- 300 ml Water or vegetable broth
- 3 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 1 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(or to taste)
- for serving Sour cream
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Wash the zucchini. Cut off the tops and scoop out the insides, leaving about a 1 cm thick shell. Reserve the scooped-out zucchini flesh.
💡 Tip: Be careful not to pierce the bottom of the zucchini. - 2
Finely chop the reserved zucchini flesh. In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, uncooked rice, chopped onion, minced garlic, chopped dill, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper. Add the chopped zucchini flesh and mix well.
💡 Tip: Ensure all ingredients are evenly distributed. - 3
Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease a baking dish large enough to hold the zucchini upright.
💡 Tip: A deep baking dish is recommended to hold the sauce. - 4
Stuff the zucchini shells with the meat mixture, filling them about three-quarters full.
💡 Tip: Don't overfill, as the rice will expand. - 5
Arrange the stuffed zucchini in the prepared baking dish. In a separate bowl, whisk together the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, water or broth, and 1 tbsp of oil. Season with salt and pepper.
💡 Tip: The sauce should be flavorful. - 6
Pour the tomato sauce around the zucchini in the baking dish. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
💡 Tip: Tightly covering ensures the zucchini steam and cook evenly. - 7
Bake for 45 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender and the filling is cooked through.
💡 Tip: Check for tenderness with a fork. - 8
Let the stuffed zucchini rest for a few minutes before serving. Serve warm, optionally with a dollop of sour cream.
💡 Tip: The sauce will thicken as it cools slightly.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a richer flavor, you can sauté the onion and garlic before adding them to the meat mixture.
- ✓If the zucchini are very large, you might need to adjust the baking time.
- ✓Ensure the rice is uncooked when adding it to the filling, as it will cook inside the zucchini.
🔄 Variations
- Use a vegetarian filling with rice, mushrooms, and mixed vegetables.
- Add a pinch of paprika or dried thyme to the meat mixture for extra flavor.
- For a lighter version, use ground chicken or turkey instead of pork.