Bbq'd Meat Stuffed Zucchini W/ Bruschetta Topping

Total Time: 2 hrs Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 4 large zucchini (about 9-inch long)
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 onion (chopped)
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• 1 tablespoon italian seasoning
• 8 mushrooms (halved and sliced)
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese (grated)
• 1 (680 ml) can tomato sauce
• 1 medium egg (beaten)
• 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs
• 1/2 orzo pasta (cooked and drained)
• 1 large tomato (diced and drained of excess juice)
• 1/2 medium onion (diced)
• 1/3 medium zucchini (coarsely diced all with green skin on)
• 2 teaspoons canola oil or 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 -3 teaspoons dried basil
• 1 1/2-2 cups mozzarella cheese (grated)

Recipe

• 1 bruschetta:.
• 2 combine tomato, onion, zucchini, oil and basil. set aside.
• 3 meat filling:
• 4 trim ends of zucchini and slice lengthwise.
• 5 scoop out flesh leaving 1/2" walls to resemble a "boat".
• 6 in a large deep pan steam zucchini cut side down for about 5 minute (i had to turn mine half way through to cook both ends) set aside.
• 7 in a deep dish skillet brown meat and drain.
• 8 add onion, garlic, italian seasoning and mushrooms. sauté with meat until onion is soft and clear.
• 9 add tomato sauce, bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes uncovered.
• 10 when 5 minutes remain stir in cooked orzo. finish simmering.
• 11 remove from heat and cool slightly.
• 12 quickly stir in egg.
• 13 add bread crumbs and stir well.
• 14 stuffing:.
• 15 pat zucchini dry and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
• 16 prepare a bbq bake sheet (i used an old cookie sheet) with foil making the foil hang about 1 1/2-2" to make "walls" on your pan.
• 17 pre-heat grill to medium heat.
• 18 spoon meat mixture into zucchini boats evenly pushing gently along the center to make a slight "well" in the mixture.
• 19 evenly spoon bruschetta mix into wells.
• 20 sprinkle all with cheese.
• 21 place pan on bbq and close lid.
• 22 let cook without lifting lid for 20 minutes.
• 23 turn pan 180 degrees.
• 24 let cook an addition 10-15 minutes (lid down) or until meat mix is bubbling and cheese is melted and starting to brown.
• 25 serve.