Sister to Karnıyarığa: Baked Zucchini with Minced Meat

Wash the zucchinis in plenty of water, cut off the stem and tip, and peel them in strips.

Using a sharp knife, cut the zucchinis in half and empty their insides with a spoon. Be careful not to damage or pierce the base.

Boil the zucchinis in a pot of hot water for about 5 minutes. Then drain them with a colander and place them on a greased baking tray, leaving the middle part facing up.

To prepare the minced meat stuffing; chop the onion into small pieces. Chop the garlic finely.

Chop the peeled tomato into cubes. Chop the dill finely.

Heat the olive oil in a pan. Fry the chopped onion and garlic until they turn light brown.

Add medium-fat ground meat, which you can choose for flavor, to the pan. Cook with the fried onions until they take on color and absorb their water.

Continuing the cooking process by stirring occasionally, add the chopped tomatoes, pepper paste, mint, salt and black pepper in that order.

Add the finely chopped dill to the minced meat stuffing that you took from the stove and mix. Fill the middle parts of the boiled zucchinis with the minced meat stuffing.

To decorate; slice the tomato into half-moon shapes. Cut the cheese slices in half and place them on the zucchini with the tomatoes. Add hot water to the baking tray.

Bake the zucchinis in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for about 20 minutes and serve hot. Share with your loved ones.