Kousa bil Banadoura
Zucchini with Tomato Sauce
Kousa bil Banadoura is a comforting Palestinian stew featuring tender zucchini simmered in a rich, flavorful tomato sauce, often with ground meat. It's a simple yet delicious dish that highlights fresh ingredients and is perfect served with rice.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 kg Small zucchini (kousa)(about 2 lbs, cut into 1-inch thick rounds)
- 0.5 kg Ground beef or lamb(about 1 lb)
- 1 medium Onion(finely chopped)
- 3 cloves Garlic cloves(minced)
- 1 can (28 oz) Crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons Tomato paste
- 1 cup Water or beef broth
- 1 teaspoon Allspice
- 0.5 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Salt(or to taste)
- 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Fresh mint or cilantro(chopped, for garnish (optional))
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the zucchini: Wash the zucchini and cut into 1-inch thick rounds. If desired, you can lightly pan-fry the zucchini rounds until slightly golden on both sides to prevent them from becoming too mushy during cooking. Set aside.
💡 Tip: Lightly frying the zucchini adds texture and helps it hold its shape. - 2
Brown the meat: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the ground meat and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
- 3
Add aromatics and spices: Stir in the minced garlic, allspice, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- 4
Create the sauce: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another minute. Add the crushed tomatoes and the water or broth. Bring the sauce to a simmer.
💡 Tip: Cooking the tomato paste briefly helps to deepen its flavor. - 5
Simmer the stew: Gently add the zucchini rounds to the tomato sauce. Ensure they are mostly submerged. Cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 30-40 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender and the sauce has thickened.
💡 Tip: Avoid stirring too vigorously to prevent the zucchini from breaking apart. - 6
Serve: Ladle the Kousa bil Banadoura into bowls. Garnish with fresh chopped mint or cilantro, if desired. Serve hot with plain rice or couscous.
💡 Tip: This dish is even better the next day as the flavors meld together.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Use fresh, firm zucchini for the best results.
- ✓Adjust the amount of spices to your personal taste.
- ✓For a vegetarian version, omit the meat and add a can of drained chickpeas.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add cubed potatoes or carrots along with the zucchini.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.