Lebanese Kousa Mahshi | Stuffed Zucchini – كوسا محشي | Daniella’s Home Cooking

🇱🇧 Lebanese Kousa Mahshi – كوسا محشي | Stuffed Zucchini One of our traditional Lebanese dishes — zucchini stuffed with rice and minced beef and gently cooked until tender and juicy. INGREDIENTS 🥒 Zucchini • 1.5 kg fresh small Lebanese zucchini Filling • 1 cup medium short-grain rice • 250 g minced beef • 1 fresh tomato, crushed • 1 tsp seven spices • 1 tsp salt • 1 tsp dried mint • 1 tsp sweet paprika • 1 tsp cinnamon • ¼ tsp black pepper • 1 tbsp crushed garlic • 1 tbsp tomato paste • 1 tbsp ghee Cooking Sauce • 4 tbsp tomato paste • 1 tbsp salt • Water – enough to sit about 5 cm above the zucchini Final Garlic & Mint • 4 cloves garlic, crushed • 1 tbsp dried mint • Fresh coriander to garnish METHOD Wash, trim and carefully core the zucchini. Mix all the filling ingredients together. Stuff each zucchini about ¾ full, leaving room for the rice to expand. ⭐ Chef’s Tip: Pierce each stuffed zucchini from side to side near the bottom with a skewer. This helps the cooking water penetrate inside so the zucchini and filling cook evenly. Arrange in a pot and add water to about 5 cm above the zucchini. Bring to a gentle boil in plain water first. This allows the zucchini skin to soften properly before the sauce thickens. Once gently boiling, add 4 tbsp tomato paste and 1 tbsp salt. Continue cooking gently until tender and the filling is cooked through. Toward the end, add 4 crushed garlic cloves and 1 tbsp dried mint. Garnish with fresh coriander and serve. ⏱️ Preparation + cooking: 1½ hours 🍲 Cooking: 1 hour 🍽️ Serves 5 ❤️ Daniella’s Home Cooking #KousaMahshi #LebaneseFood #LebaneseCooking #StuffedZucchini #MiddleEasternFood #HomeCooking #Melbourne #Australia