Zucchini Taco Boats

Even though it’s “diet” it’s still a delicious easy to make dinner that gives you a lovely taco flavor without so many not so lovely calories… and if you eat them on Tuesday, it still counts!

Ingredients

• 6 medium zucchini
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, diced (or half a large one)
• 1 heaped tsp of fresh minced garlic
• 1/2 lb ground turkey
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp sweet paprika
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 4 fl oz chicken stock or water
• Salt & pepper to taste
• 4 oz strong cheddar cheese, grated
• Beans, sour cream, and fresh or dried cilantro to serve (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350f, and line a baking pan with foil and lightly grease the file.
2. Wash and dry the zucchini, cut a bit off the ends and then cut them in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out enough of the flesh so that just a thin lining of it remains, even at the ends. Put the halves into the prepared baking pan, and chop up the scooped out flesh.
3. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat and add the oil, onion, garlic, and chopped up zucchini flesh. Season with salt and black pepper. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the onions are soft and the moisture from the zucchini has cooked off.
4. Turn the heat up to medium high and add the ground turkey, the chili powder, paprika, cumin, and oregano. While the turkey cooks break it up with the back of a wooden spoon. When the turkey is finely crumbled and is cooked through, stir in the stock. Cook and stir until most of the stock evaporates and the mixture thickens. Taste, and season with salt and pepper.
5. Spoon the turkey mixture into the prepared Zucchini halves so that they are level You should have just enough to fill each half (The cooked filling will have shrunk so there won’t be “extra”).
6. Sprinkle the cheese over evenly, and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
7. You could pop them under the broiler if you want them browned, but if you try to cook them longer to brown the tops you’ll end up with a mush casserole.
8. I like to serve these sprinkled with cilantro and a dollop of sour cream and refried beans on the side.

Makes 2 or 3 Servings -This recipe is easily doubled

Notes

• This is not a substantial meal, a grown person could easily eat halves. The beans help make it more filling and adds some healthy fiber too. Mmmmm, healthy fiber.