Quinoa Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Serve these as a side dish or appetizer at your next cookout.
For the romesco sauce:
1 slice crusty bread, cut into cubes
1 cup drained and chopped bottled roasted red bell peppers
¼ cup sliced almonds
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
kosher salt, to taste
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
2 to 4 tablespoons water
For the zucchini boats:
2½ cups chicken stock
1 cup uncooked red quinoa, rinsed and drained
2 green onions, chopped, white and green parts divided
kosher salt
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 (8-oz.) cremini mushrooms, sliced
2 to 3 fresh garlic cloves, minced
2 bunches kale, stem fully removed and chopped
6 to 8 medium to large sized zucchini
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Scatter the bread cubes on the baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and turn the heat down to 350 degrees.
Place the bread cubes, roasted red bell peppers, almonds, olive oil, lemon juice, pinch of kosher salt and paprika in a food processor and pulse or process until smooth. Add the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, pulsing after each addition until the sauce reaches desired consistency. Set aside.
Using a heavy bottomed pot or dutch oven over high heat, bring the stock and quinoa to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and let simmer for about 15 minutes or until all of the chicken stock is absorbed. Season with salt and sprinkle the white parts of the green onions over the quinoa and mix together gently. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Using a large non-stick pan or skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and garlic and cook for about 6 minutes or until the mushrooms have softened and browned. Add in the chopped kale, season with a pinch of kosher salt and cook until softened, for about 6 to 8 minutes. Let cool slightly; then mix with the cooked quinoa. Set aside.
Trim the ends off each zucchini. Slice the zucchini in half lengthwise and, using a spoon, gently scoop out the pulp. Lay the prepped zucchini boats into a baking dish and fill each one with the kale and quinoa mixture. Repeat until all are prepped and filled.
Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for about 25-30 minutes or until the zucchini is somewhat tender. Top with the romesco sauce, sprinkle with diced green onions and serve.
*Source: mindbodygreen.com: Top 10 Health Benefits of Eating Kale, and mindbodygreen.com: Benefits of Quinoa The Supergrain of the Future. by Alice Choi | Find Alice on Facebook or Instagram.
Want to learn how to grow your own Kale? Go Here : Growing Kale: A Gardener’s Field Manual
To learn even more about the health benefits of Kale, go to: Balance Me Beautiful.
Here’s a comprehensive guide on Types of Kale.
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