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Stuffed Kousa with Yogurt Sauce (Kousa Mahshi bil Laban)

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Tender zucchini stuffed with spiced beef, rice, and pine nuts, simmered in a tangy garlicky yogurt sauce and garnished with toasted pine nuts and mint. A classic Levantine comfort dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 small zucchini (Kousa), hollowed
  • 250g ground beef or lamb
  • 1/2 cup short-grain rice, rinsed and soaked 15 min
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon dried mint
  • 1 tablespoon ghee or butter (for pine nuts)
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts

For the Yogurt Sauce:

  • 4 cups plain yogurt (full fat)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon dried mint
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  1. In a skillet, heat olive oil and sauté chopped onions until soft. Add ground beef, spices, salt, and pepper. Cook until meat is browned. Mix in drained rice and set aside to cool slightly.
  2. Gently stuff each hollowed zucchini with the beef and rice mixture, leaving 1 cm at the top for rice to expand.
  3. In a small pot, whisk yogurt, egg, cornstarch, and salt until smooth. Place over medium heat and stir continuously until sauce thickens and starts to simmer gently.
  4. Add minced garlic and dried mint to the yogurt sauce and simmer for 2 minutes.
  5. Gently place stuffed zucchini into the yogurt sauce. Simmer on low heat, partially covered, for 40–45 minutes or until zucchini is tender and rice is cooked.
  6. In a small pan, melt ghee and toast pine nuts until golden. Spoon over the zucchini just before serving.
  7. Garnish with additional dried mint and a sprinkle of paprika if desired. Serve warm with vermicelli rice or flatbread.

Notes

  • Do not overstuff zucchini to allow rice to expand during cooking.
  • Stir yogurt sauce continuously at the start to prevent curdling.
  • You can substitute lamb for beef for a richer flavor.
  • Best served with vermicelli rice or warm flatbread.

Nutrition

Keywords: Kousa Mahshi, stuffed zucchini, yogurt sauce, Middle Eastern recipes, Levantine cuisine

Find it online: https://foodiecara.com/stuffed-kousa-with-yogurt-sauce-kousa-mahshi-bil-laban/