Lynbrook | New Hyde Park | NY

zucchini

Recipe of the Week: Taco Stuffed Zucchinis

TOTAL TIME: 1 hour 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

  • 4 medium (32 ounces) zucchinis, cut in half lengthwise
  • 1/2 cup mild salsa
  • 1 lb 93% lean ground turkey
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp kosher salt, or to taste
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 small onion, minced
  • 2 tbsp bell pepper, minced
  • 4 oz can tomato sauce
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 cup reduced fat Mexican blend shredded cheese
  • 1/4 cup chopped scallions or cilantro, for topping

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Place 1/4 cup of salsa in the bottom of a large baking dish.
  3. Using a small spoon or melon baller, hollow out the center of the zucchini halves, leaving 1/4-inch thick shell on each half.
  4. Chop the scooped out flesh of the zucchini in small pieces and set aside 3/4 of a cup to add to the taco filling, (squeeze excess water with a paper towel) discarding the rest or save to use in another recipe.
  5. Drop zucchini halves in boiling water and cook 1 minute. Remove from water.
  6. Brown turkey in a large skillet, breaking up while it cooks. When no longer pink add the spices and mix well.
  7. Add the onion, bell pepper, reserved zucchini, tomato sauce and water. Stir and cover, simmer on low for about 20 minutes.
  8. Using a spoon, fill the hollowed zucchini boats dividing the taco meat equally, about 1/3 cup in each, pressing firmly.
  9. Top each with 1 tablespoon of shredded cheese. Cover with foil and bake 35 minutes until cheese is melted and zucchini is cooked through.
  10. Top with scallions and serve with salsa on the side.

 

NUTRITION INFORMATION:
Yield: 4 servings, Serving Size: 2 halves
Amount per Serving:

  • Calories: 286
  • Total Fat: 12g
  • Carbohydrates: 18g
  • Sugar: 6g
  • Protein: 28g

 

Original recipe from SkinnyTaste.com can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Spinach & Zucchini Lasanga

Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 40 mins
Serves: 9

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • half onion, finely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 28oz. can crushed tomatoes with the juice or 1 ¾ pound of fresh tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
  • 3 cups spinach
  • 15 oz part-skim ricotta
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 4 medium zucchini, sliced ?” thick
  • 16 oz part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • ½ tsp parsley, chopped

Directions:

  1. In a saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and cook 4-5 minutes until they are soft and golden. Add garlic and sauté, being careful not to burn. Add tomato paste and stir well. Add crushed tomatoes, including the juice in case you are using tomato cans. Add salt and pepper.
  2. Cover and bring to a low simmer for 25-30 minutes.
  3. Finally remove from the heat and add fresh basil, spinach and stir well.
  4. Adjust the seasoning if you think it is necessary.
  5. Preheat oven to 375°.
  6. In a medium bowl mix ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese and an egg. Stir well.
  7. In a 9×12 casserole spread some tomato sauce on the bottom. Layer 5 or 6 zucchini slices to cover. Place some of the ricotta cheese mixture and top with the mozzarella cheese.
  8. Repeat the layers until all your ingredients are all used up. Top with sauce and mozzarella.
  9. Bake 30 minutes covered and 10 minutes uncovered. Let stand about 10 minutes before serving.
  10. Garnish with parley and enjoy!

Find the original recipe here!

Recipe of the Week: Seven Vegetable Couscous

Prep Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients:

Seven-Vegetable Stew:

  • 3 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 2 small turnips, peeled and quartered
  • 1 medium yellow onion, quartered lengthwise, root end intact
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
  • 1/2 fennel bulb, thickly sliced lengthwise, root end intact
  • 1/3 cup golden raisins
  • 1 tablespoon peeled, chopped, fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons each ground cumin, paprika, and sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 cinnamon stick, snapped in half
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 pound butternut squash
  • 1 small zucchini, cut into 2-inch rounds
  • 1 (15 1/2-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 4 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley, tied together with kitchen string
  • 1 cup canned whole peeled tomatoes, with their juices

Couscous:

  • 2 cups cold water
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 cups uncooked couscous
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Directions:

For the stew:

  • Put the garlic, turnips, onion, carrot, fennel, raisins, ginger, salt, cumin, paprika, sugar, turmeric, cloves, and cinnamon in a large soup pot with a tight-fitting lid. Add 2 cups water and bring to a boil over high heat; cover, reduce the heat, and simmer until the vegetables are somewhat soft, about 10 minutes.
  • Halve and seed the butternut squash and cut it into wedges. Tie parsley sprigs together with kitchen string. Add squash, zucchini, chickpeas, and parsley sprigs to the pot. Using your fingers and working over the pot, tear the tomatoes into big pieces and add them to the pot with their juices.
  • Simmer the stew, covered, until it is slightly thick and fragrant, and the vegetables are fork tender but not mushy, about 15 minutes. Remove cinnamon sticks.

 For the couscous:

  1. Bring water to a boil with the butter and salt in a small saucepan. Stir in the couscous, pull the saucepan off the heat, cover, and set aside until the water has been absorbed and the couscous is plump, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and fluff with a fork.

To serve, spread the couscous over a large serving platter and, using a slotted spoon, mound the vegetables in the center. Pour some of the broth over the vegetables and sprinkle with the almonds. Enjoy!

 

Original recipe from the Food Network 

Recipe of the Week: Shrimp and Veggie Stuffed Zucchini

Prep: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients:

  • 1 extra large zucchini
  • ¼ c olive oil
  • 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 shallot, finely chopped
  • ½ lb. large shrimp, shelled, deveined, & halved
  • 1 large tomato
  • 8 cremini mushrooms
  • ¼ c grated Parmesan cheese
  • 8 leaves fresh basil, torn
  • Salt & Pepper, to taste
  • Garlic Powder, to taste
  • ¼ c grated Parmesan cheese, divided

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven’s broiler and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source. Grease a baking sheet.
  2. Cut the zucchini in half the long way, and scoop out the seeds and pulp, leaving a thick shell of flesh. Brush both halves of the zucchini with about 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and place them, cut sides down, onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake until the zucchini are hot and beginning to release beads of moisture, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the zucchini from the oven.
  3. Reduce the oven heat to 450 degrees F.
  4. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat, and cook and stir the garlic and shallot until translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.
  5. Place 1 tablespoon of olive oil, the shrimp, diced tomato, mushrooms, 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, basil, and the cooked garlic and shallot into a bowl, and stir to mix. Season to taste with black pepper, salt, and garlic powder. Stuff the mixture into the zucchini halves, and sprinkle each zucchini with about 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese.
  6. Bake the stuffed zucchini in the preheated oven until the cheese is browned and the filling is cooked through and hot, about 20 minutes.

 

Recipe of the Week: Zucchini Frittata

Makes: 2 servings
Prep: 35 mins
Start to Finish: 35 mins

Ingredients

  • 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1 cup diced zucchini, (1 small)
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup grape tomatoes, or cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/4 cup slivered fresh mint
  • 1/4 cup slivered fresh basil
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt, divided
  • Freshly ground pepper, to taste
  • 5 large eggs
  • 1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese, (2 ounces

Directions

  1. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add zucchini and onion; cook, stirring often, for 1 minute. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low; cook, stirring occasionally, until the zucchini is tender, but not mushy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, mint, basil, 1/8 teaspoon salt and a grinding of pepper; increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring, until the moisture has evaporated, 30 to 60 seconds.
  2. Whisk eggs, the remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt and a grinding of pepper in a large bowl until blended. Add the zucchini mixture and cheese; stir to combine.
  3. Preheat the broiler.
  4. Wipe out the pan and brush it with the remaining 2 teaspoons oil; place over medium-low heat. Add the frittata mixture and cook, without stirring, until the bottom is light golden, 2 to 4 minutes. As it cooks, lift the edges and tilt the pan so uncooked egg will flow to the edges.
  5. Place the pan under the broiler and broil until the frittata is set and the top is golden, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Loosen the edges and slide onto a plate. Cut into wedges and serve.

Nutrition Information

Per Serving: 376 calories, 28g fat, 10g carbohydrates,  21g protein

 

Original recipe can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Zucchini Tator Tots (Zots)

This week our recipe was submitted by one of our awesome gym members, Cathy. Taste tested and approved!

Yield: 3 servings, Serving Size: 5 tots

INGREDIENTS:

  • cooking spray
  • 1 packed cup grated zucchini
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 medium onion, minced
  • 1/4 cup grated reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/3 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt and black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.  Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
  2. Grate the zucchini into a clean dish towel until you have 1 packed cup.  Wring all of the excess water out of the zucchini, there will be a lot of water. In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Spoon 1 tablespoon of mixture in your hands and roll into small ovals. Place on the cookie sheet and bake for 16 to 18 minutes, turning halfway though cooking until golden. Makes 16.

NUTRITION INFORMATION

Per Serving:

  • Calories:108
  • Total Fat:3g
  • Sodium:262mg
  • Carbohydrates:5g
  • Fiber:2g
  • Sugar:2g
  • Protein: 7g

Original recipe can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Chicken Zucchini Noodle Caprese

Original recipe from Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 2 • Size: 2 cups • Points +: 9 • Smart Points: 7
Calories: 342 • Fat: 17 g • Saturated Fat: 5 g • Protein: 34 g • Carb: 15 g • Fiber: 4 g
Sugar: 2 g  • Sodium: 808 mg • Cholesterol: 105 mg

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut 1/2-inch cubes
  • kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 3/4 lb grape tomatoes, cut in half
  • pinch red crushed pepper flakes
  • Kosher Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
  • 1 large zucchini, spiralized with Blade D
  • 2 oz fresh mini mozzarella balls, cut in half

Directions:

  1. Start by spriralizing the zucchini using blade D if you have the Inspiralizer, or the thickest noodle blade your spiralizer has.
  2. Season the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper and oregano. In a large non-stick pan set over med-high heat, heat 1/2 tablespoon of the oil. Add the chicken and cook, stirring until browned and cooked through, about 6 minutes. Set aside.
  3. Reduce heat to medium, add the remaining oil and garlic and cook until golden, 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, and crushed red pepper flakes, and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and black pepper. Reduce the heat to low. Simmer, covered, until the tomatoes soften, 15 minutes.
  4. Increase heat to high, stir in the zucchini and basil, season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook 2 minutes. Add the chicken back to the skillet along with the mozzarella and serve right away.