Turkey Zucchini Boats
Zucchini halves baked and filled with a lean turkey, tomato and oregano mixture under melted mozzarella. Four servings in 45 minutes.
Photograph credit: Tasting the Zucchini Pizza Boat by cogdogblog · CC0 1.0 · Flickr
What to Put on the Table With Turkey Zucchini Boats
- A green salad
- Steamed green beans
- Sliced tomatoes
How to Cook Turkey Zucchini Boats
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Heat the oven to 200°C / 390°F (180°C / 355°F fan). Halve the zucchini lengthwise and scoop out the centres with a spoon, leaving a shell about 1 cm thick. Chop the scooped flesh finely.
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Brush the shells with half the oil, lay them cut side up on a baking tray and bake for 10 minutes. Tip out any liquid.
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Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Brown the turkey with the onion for 6 minutes, breaking it up. Add the garlic, chopped zucchini flesh, oregano, paprika, salt and pepper and cook for 4 minutes, until the liquid has evaporated. Add the tomatoes and simmer for 3 minutes.
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Spoon the filling into the shells, top with the mozzarella and bake for 12 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the edges are golden. Scatter with the parsley.
A Few Notes
Use medium zucchini; very large ones are watery and seedy.
If the filling looks wet, cook it for another minute or two before it goes into the shells.
Cover the boats loosely with foil if the cheese browns before the zucchini is tender.
Ingredient Swaps
- An eighth of a teaspoon of garlic powder per clove is the usual stand-in when you are out of fresh garlic — it will not caramelise the same way, but it carries the flavour.
- Fresh herbs work in place of the dried oregano at roughly three times the quantity — a teaspoon of dried is about a tablespoon of fresh, chopped.
Storing and Reheating
Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a hot oven; the zucchini softens as it stands.
Common Questions
How long does Turkey Zucchini Boats take to make?
About 45 minutes in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.
What are the key tips for making Turkey Zucchini Boats?
Use medium zucchini; very large ones are watery and seedy. If the filling looks wet, cook it for another minute or two before it goes into the shells. Cover the boats loosely with foil if the cheese browns before the zucchini is tender.
What should I serve with Turkey Zucchini Boats?
A green salad; Steamed green beans; Sliced tomatoes.
How should Turkey Zucchini Boats be stored?
Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a hot oven; the zucchini softens as it stands.
Is Turkey Zucchini Boats suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is gluten-free, weight-loss friendly, low-carb, keto and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Turkey Zucchini Boats?
About 308 kcal per serving, with 29 g protein, 12 g carbohydrate and 16 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutrition per Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.