These saucy, stuffed zucchini are filled with canned lentils, kalamata olives and jarred marinara sauce for a healthy plant-based dinner with minimal hands on time that’s equal parts filling (22g protein!) and cozy!
I feel like all of a sudden, life with the kids (how are they ten and fifteen?!?) has ramped up a THOUSAND notches. With all the different activities and social commitments, hubs and I are just trying to keep up.
Like yesterday, I found myself driving my kid to two different universities for activities. A 9AM drop off at one and a 9PM pick up from another. On opposite ends of the city. It’s A LOT.
And the more life accelerates, the more I look forward to a really good dinner. It’s how I ground myself at the end of the day. The trouble is, I don’t always have a lot of effort left in me to produce it (anyone else?!?)
So recipes that include double cooking aren’t really my thing. I’d been eyeing some stuffed zucchini recipes online and thought to myself: I’ve gotta do one that’s just mix and bake so I might actually do this on a Tuesday. And this is what I came up with!
Perpetual laziness efficiency aside, I think one of the other things that really makes my recipes different is that I never really turn off my dietitian brain. Like, if you want a vegan or vegetarian main, it’s GOT to have some protein, or you’re gonna be hungry 30 minutes later.
Which is why I stuffed the zucchini not with bread crumbs but with saucy lentils – they’re packed with fibre and plant-based protein! Each serving contains about 22 grams of plant-based protein and 13 grams of fibre…that magic combo for feeling full and keeping your blood sugars balanced!
Our current dinner mantra: we’re keeping it simple. We’re using canned lentils and sauce. And it’s super freaking delicious. All your favourite pasta flavours but with more veg.
These stuffed zucchini boats are a comforting light dinner all on their own..but you could also serve them with some garlic bread or maybe a side salad for an extra dose of greens (maybe my cucumber and fennel salad??).
Looking for more minimal effort, maximum flavour plant-based recipes? Grab a copy of my latest cookbook Plant Magic!
Hungry? Let’s make these yummy vegan zucchini boats
This is actually such a simple recipe, I don’t need to prep you much. But I’ll say this: the key to actually stuffing the zucchini is to have WIDE zucchini. You want them about 2 – 2.5 inches wide and 10 inches long so there is room to scoop them out and fill.
No big zucchini in the store? You could also transform this into layers. Spread half the lentil sauce in a small baking dish, slice and add your zucchini, spread the other half of the sauce and then top with cheese and bake!
Heads up: we’re also not going to use all of the zucchini we scoop – it won’t fit – so here’s a tip: freeze it for use in smoothies and pasta sauces another night! Zero waste here, my friends.
More yummy recipes to help you eat more zucchini:
- White Bean Skillet with Speedy Herb Sauce
- 30 Minute Zucchini Orzo
- Baked Zucchini Fritters with Chickpea Flour
- Chopped Summer Vegetable Salad with Zucchini
- 15 Minute, Fork Tender Grilled Zucchini
Saucy Lentil-stuffed Zucchini Boats
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchini about 2 inches wide and 10 inches long OR 4 x 6-8 inch zucchini
- 2 14 oz cans lentils rinsed and drained, or 3 cups cooked
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- ⅓ cup pitted kalamata olives diced
- 2 cloves garlic micro grated or minced
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup cheese shreds
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 450℉ (230℃). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
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Slice the zucchini in half lengthwise. Using a spoon or melon baller, scoop out the flesh, leaving about ¼ inch thick zucchini boat. Measure out 1 1/2 cups scooped zucchini, finely chop and add to a large bowl.
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Add the drained lentils, marinara sauce, olives, nutritional yeast, oregano and salt to the bowl and mix well.
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Stuff the zucchini, really mound it on top as much as you can! Top with cheese shreds and bake until zucchini is al dente and sauce is bubbly, about 20-25 minutes.
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Let cool for a few minutes, then carefully transfer the zucchini boats to your plate and enjoy!
Notes
If using 4 smaller zucchini, do not increase the amount of diced zucchini you add!
The post Saucy Lentil-stuffed Zucchini Boats appeared first on Desiree Nielsen.
