We ran across this recipe today and think it's going to make a great addition to our summer menu! The flavors of coffee and oregano are a unique pairing that we can't wait to try out. Generally, recipes using instant coffee don't make it on our to-do list, but this one looked too tasty to pass up. If you take this recipe on, let us know what you think.
Ingredients
- 4 zucchini
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 shallots, finely chopped
- 100g basmati rice, washed and drained
- 1/2 chicken stock cube
- 2 tsp instant coffee granules
- 1 tsp fresh, chopped oregano, plus extra for sprinkling
- 70g goats' cheese
- Olive oil, for drizzling
Directions
Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the zucchini and cook for 7 minutes. Remove from the pan, allow to cool, halve lengthwise, then scoop out the pulp using a spoon, without breaking the skin, to leave a shell. Set the shells and the flesh aside.
Melt the butter in a deep non-stick frying pan, add the shallots and fry until golden. Add the drained rice and stir well. Add 240ml water, the stock cube half, coffee granules and oregano. Bring to boil, then cook, covered, on a very low heat for about 7 minutes, or until the water has absorbed and the rice is cooked. Season with a little salt and set aside to cool.
Remove the rice from the pan and use the same pan for the zucchini. Don't add any oil, just put in the zucchini shells, skin-side down, and dry-fry, still over a very low heat, for a couple of minutes to brown a little. Remove and set aside on foil on a grill pan. Now add the zucchini flesh to the pan and fry for about a minute and a half, stirring all the while, until it feels like the liquid has evaporated. Turn off the heat, add the rice and stir well.
Preheat the grill to hot.
Spoon the mixture into the zucchini skins. Top each with some crumbled goats cheese, sprinkle over a touch more oregano and a drizzle of olive oil. Place under the hot grill for about 8 minutes or until the cheese is browned.
Try the rice alone or with some chicken or fish; grilled salmon would be particularly good. Perhaps try stuffing mushrooms instead.
Source:
Guardian UK
