Quinoa Lentil Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Enticing stuffed zucchini boats! Super-yummy and packed with nutrition, these adorable boats are the perfect way to have fun with kids in the kitchen! Discover how to turn a simple vegetable into a delicious, and satisfying dish with an easy filling of sautéed onion, garlic, tomatoes, quinoa, and brown lentils.

Row, row, row your boat……..merrily, merrily, merrily, these are but a dream! Honestly, we’re hooked on these stuffed zucchini boats. They taste as good as they look.

Having struggled cooking with zukes (they turn into an overcooked mess), I was ready to experiment, and find a creative, simple and delicious recipe.

Lately, zucchini boats seem to be the craze. Arn’t they everywhere?! Trying out a a stuffed zucchini boat recipe has been on my ‘to do’ list for a.long.time. And these did not disappoint.

So, it all started when Deepak came home with a bag full of zucchini on Saturday. Of course, I now had a reason to come up with a recipe that we’d all enjoy.

I love the fact that zucchinis can be a smart swap for refined grains, like pasta or bread AND you don’t end up sacrificing any of the flavour. Our pantry always has quinoa and this was an ideal opportunity to put it to good use to assemble a balanced meal – perfect for a light week night dinner or a filling lunchbox option. Any leftover stuffing was enjoyed ‘as is.’ Well, we just couldn’t help ourselves, but nibble.

#kidskitchen

For those of you who follow me on Instagram or are part of my Facebook  foodie~licious group, know the kids are very involved in the kitchen. Most weekends, they get their hands dirty batch cooking with me; a great way for us to spend quality family time and for them to learn about food and cooking. Best of all, they’re learning independence, building focus, confidence and taking care of their own needs.Our eldest, Roohi, scooped out the zucchini, whilst IrshaadKarim chopped the tomatoes and little IzaanAli, our 3-year old washed the veggies and helped with stuffing the boats. It was a fun family affair!

Have you tried to stuff veggies?

So, kuch kuch hota hai? If you try this recipe, would love to hear from you! Leave a comment, rate it, or share a photo and hashtag with #desiliciousrd on Instagram and twitter!  Can’t wait to see your photos.

Quinoa Lentil Stuffed Zucchini Boats

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Enticing stuffed zucchini boats! Super-yummy and packed with nutrition, these adorable boats are the perfect way to have fun with kids in the kitchen! Discover how to turn a simple vegetable into a delicious, and satisfying dish with an easy filling of sautéed onion, garlic, tomatoes, quinoa, and brown lentils.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time35 mins

Total Time45 mins

Servings: 6 people

Author: Shahzadi Devje

Ingredients

• ▢ 1/4 cup brown lentils
• ▢ 3 cups water
• ▢ 1/2 cup quinoa
• ▢ 6 zucchini medium-large, sliced in half lengthwise
• ▢ 2 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• ▢ 1 onion medium
• ▢ 2 cloves garlic large
• ▢ 1/2 tsp sea salt some for sprinkling
• ▢ 1/2 tsp black pepper or too taste
• ▢ 1 tsp cumin powder
• ▢ 1 tsp coriander powder
• ▢ 1 cup cherry tomato cut in quarters
• ▢ 1/2 tsp red chili flakes
• ▢ 1/2 lemon fresh juice

Instructions

• Rinse and soak the lentils overnight.
• Boil the lentils in 2 cups of water for 15-20 mins, or until al-dente.
• Drain the lentils, rinse with cold water to stop them from cooking further and set aside.
• At the same time, in a separate pot, cook the quinoa in 1 cup of water. Once it boils, turn the heat to low and place the lid, until all the water has been absorbed. Set aside.
• Position a rack in the top of the oven and preheat the oven to 400ºF. Line a baking tray with grease proof paper.
• Using a 1 teaspoon measuring spoon, scoop out the centre of the zucchini leaving a 1/4 inch border on all sides. Rub 1/2 tbsp of olive oil over all the zucchini boats. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Place the zucchini boats on the grease proof paper tray, skin side down, and set aside.
• Heat the 2 tbsp olive oil in a pan or skillet over medium high heat. Add the onions, garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
• Add 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste), cumin, and coriander and stir well for 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes and cook for 1-2 minutes.
• Add the quinoa and lentils along with the red pepper flakes and mix well.
• Divide the mixture into the prepared zucchini boats.
• Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, or until cooked through.
• Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the cooked boats and serve whilst hot.

Nutrition Facts

Quinoa Lentil Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Amount Per Serving

Calories 131 Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 5g

Sodium 230mg10%

Potassium 656mg19%

Carbohydrates 14g5%

Fiber 4g16%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 600IU12%

Vitamin C 55.3mg67%

Calcium 40mg4%

Iron 1.8mg10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Please note the nutritional analysis values are estimates and suggestions. This nutrition facts table does not know your life - your body, including your hunger and satiety cues, change daily. It's okay to eat more or less. Say no to food guilt and instead embrace mindful eating.

Shahzadi Devje

Shahzadi is an award-winning registered dietitian (RD) regulated by the College of Dietitians of Ontario and certified diabetes educator (CDE), approved by the Canadian Diabetes Educator Certification Board. A YouTuber and notorious foodie, she’s dedicated to helping you end your cooking wars, transform your health, and be the best version of yourself! Shahzadi is an on-air nutrition expert for CTV Your Morning and a regular contributor for Global News and other national media outlets.