Cusa Mashi, Lebanese stuffed zucchini, is a cherished dish that resonates across many Middle Eastern cultures, including Egyptian and Palestinian cuisines. This deliciously healthy meal features tender zucchini filled with a savory mixture of rice and minced meat, cooked to perfection in a rich tomato-garlic sauce.
Ingredients
For the Zucchini:
- 1.5 kg green zucchini or courgette
- 1 cup rice, washed
- 125 g minced lamb
- 125 g minced beef
- 1.5 tsp salt (half for rice, half for sauce)
- 1 tsp seven spices (half for rice, half for sauce)
- 1 tsp black pepper (half for rice, half for sauce)
- 1 tsp butter
- 1 tbsp mashed garlic (half for rice, half for sauce)
For the Sauce:
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried mint
- 1 tsp butter
- 3 tbsp mashed garlic
Preparation
- Prepare the Zucchini: Trim off the ends of each zucchini. Using a corer, carefully hollow out the insides, making sure not to pierce the skins.
- Mix the Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the rice, minced lamb, minced beef, half a teaspoon of salt, seven spices, crushed black pepper, half teaspoon of butter, and half of the mashed garlic. Mix well by hand.
- Stuff the Zucchini: Fill each zucchini with the rice and meat mixture, leaving a bit of room at the top to allow the rice to expand during cooking.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a large pot, heat the chicken stock and add the remaining mashed garlic, seven spices, salt, black pepper, dried mint, tomato paste, and butter. Mix thoroughly.
- Cook the Zucchini: Place the stuffed zucchinis into the pot with the sauce. Cover the pot and simmer on medium heat for about 30-40 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender and the rice is fully cooked.
- Serve: Remove the zucchinis from the pot and arrange them in a serving bowl. Pour some of the cooking sauce over the top and garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
Did you know?
Cusa Mashi is also popular in Palestinian and Egyptian cuisines, where it is often referred to as “mahshi kusa.” This culinary tradition symbolizes hospitality and festivity, making it a staple at gatherings and celebrations. Zucchini is an incredibly versatile ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine, also known as marrow, courgette, or squash in different regions.
This dish is not only flavorful and aromatic but also packs a punch in delivering nutritious benefits from vegetables, rice, and proteins. The unique combination of seven spices and dried mint adds an extraordinary depth of flavor to this beloved Middle Eastern delight.
