Simple & Healthy Balsamic Zucchini Boats

Simple & Healthy Balsamic Zucchini Boats
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Come wintertime, hearty meals are probably at the forefront of everyone’s minds–foodwise, anyway. And for good reason; like, it’s freaking cold outside. We want something to warm our insides that tastes comforting and filling.

But, at the same time, a lot of people want to have something healthy (after all, it is resolution time, and hopefully we’re keeping them this year). Can you have both [at the same time]?

Yes. Yes you can.

These Balsamic Zucchini Boats are the perfect mix of healthy and hearty. Have them for a light lunch and incorporate them into your meal prep. Have them for dinner on the side of a protein (such as tofu or seitan). Have them as a side dish on Thanksgiving.

However you serve them, zucchini boats are a great choice! And a satisfying one at that.

Balsamic Zucchini Boats

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish
Servings 6 zucchini boats

Ingredients
  

  • 3 small zucchini
  • 1 cup cooked brown or wild rice
  • 1/4 cup roasted red peppers, chopped the jarred kind
  • 1/2 cup vegan cheese shreds plus more for topping
  • 1 tbsp fresh oregano chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh basil chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar and extra for drizzling

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375F. Have a rimmed baking sheet ready within reach.
  • Slice each zucchini lengthwise. Hollow out the middles using a melon baller, leaving about 1/4-1/2 of an inch of the flesh on the zucchini. Save and chop 1/2 cup of the melon-balled flesh for the filling, using the rest in another recipe or discarding. Place empty zucchini boats on the rimmed baking sheet.
  • In a medium bowl, combined 1/2 cup reserved zucchini flesh, rice, chopped red pepper, vegan cheese, oregano, basil, salt, pepper and balsamic vinegar.
  • Fill zucchini boats with equal amounts of filling, then sprinkle with a little more vegan cheese shreds. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until zucchini is soft and vegan cheese melts.
  • Drizzle with extra balsamic vinegar, if desired. Enjoy!
Keyword appetizer, dinner, healthy, lunch, main course, savory, side dish, zucchini

Thanks for reading! For more inspiration (and pictures of my cats being cute), find me on Instagram at @cjisvegan 🙂



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