How do I pick the best zucchini for mahshi?

It's important that the zucchinis you use for this recipe aren't too big nor too small. Medium works best because it usually holds enough stuffing and doesn't come apart during the cooking process.

Can I mix yogurt into the kousa mahshi sauce?

I don't recommend that. I've seen people serve this recipe with a side of yogurt and I think that works well. But to actually mix the yogurt in the tomato sauce would ruin the consistency of the sauce. As an alternative, you can opt to make the exact same stuffed zucchini recipe and cook it in a yogurt-based sauce without tomatoes.

Kousa Mahshi Lebanese Stuffed Zucchini

Name: Kousa Mahshi Lebanese Stuffed Zucchini
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Lebanese
Ingredients: 4 lbs (2 kg) zucchinis, cored; 1-2 large tomatoes chopped into chunks; 1 and 1/2 cup short-grain rice; 1 lb (400 gr) minced meat (lamb, veal, or beef); 4 tablespoons butter, melted; 3 tablespoons tomato paste; 2 bay leaves; 1 teaspoon seven spice; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon white pepper; 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste); Enough water to cover all of the stuffed zucchinis

Kousa Mahshi Lebanese Stuffed Zucchini

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

Author: Mariam
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Yield: 6
Diet: Gluten Free

Description

Lebanese kousa mahshi is a recipe that takes me right back home. Minced meat rice stuffed zucchinis are cooked in a gorgeous tomato broth.

Ingredients

Scale

4 lbs (2 kg) zucchinis, cored
1-2 large tomatoes chopped into chunks
1 and 1/2 cup short-grain rice
1 lb (400 gr) minced meat (lamb, veal, or beef)
4 tablespoons butter, melted
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon seven spice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
Enough water to cover all of the stuffed zucchinis

Instructions

Wash the zucchinis and core them.
Rinse the rice and drain. Then, place it in a glass bowl.
Add the minced meat to the rice. Top the rice and minced meat with spices and salt.
Melt the butter and add it to the rice/meat mixture.
Use your hands or a spoon to mix the stuffing ingredients really well.
Start stuffing each cored zucchini (until you reach 3/4 to its opening).
Close each piece with a tomato chunk and place it in a large cooking pot.
Once all the stuffed zucchinis are in the pot, add enough water to cover them.
Bring the stuffed zucchinis to a boil for around 10-15 minutes.
Mix the tomato paste with a little bit of water. Add the tomato paste to the pot with 2 bay leaves. Season with salt to taste.
Simmer the kousa mahshi on low to medium heat for about 30-45 minutes.
Remove from heat and serve hot.