Lebanese Kousa Mehshi – Stuffed Zucchini | كوسا محشي

🇱🇧 Lebanese Kousa Mehshi – Stuffed Zucchini | كوسا محشي Ingredients: • 1.5 kg small Lebanese zucchini • 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 For the cooking sauce: • 4 tbsp tomato paste • 1 tbsp salt • Water – enough to cover the zucchini by about 5 cm To finish: • 4 garlic cloves, crushed • 1 tbsp dried mint Method: Hollow the zucchini and prepare the filling by combining the rice, minced beef, crushed tomato, spices, garlic, tomato paste and ghee. Fill each zucchini about ¾ full, leaving approximately ¼ empty to allow the rice to expand. Pierce each stuffed zucchini from side to side near the bottom with a skewer. This helps the water penetrate and allows the zucchini to cook properly. Arrange in the pot, cover with water by about 5 cm and bring to a gentle boil. Cook first in plain water to properly soften the zucchini skin. Then add 4 tbsp tomato paste and 1 tbsp salt and continue cooking. Toward the end, add 4 crushed garlic cloves and 1 tbsp dried mint. Total cooking time: approximately 1 hour. Preparation + cooking: approximately 1½ hours. Serves approximately 5. #KousaMehshi #StuffedZucchini #LebaneseFood #LebaneseCooking #DaniellasHomeCooking #HomeCooking #Melbourne #Reservoir #Australia #Shorts