Koussa mehchi (zucchini stuffed with Lebanese meat)

Ingredients:

• 600 g small zucchinis
• 250 g ground beef
• 4 tomatoes
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 100 g basmati rice
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 2 cloves garlic
• The juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1 large pinch cinnamon
• 40 g butter
• Salt, pepper

Instructions:

• Clean and scrape the skin of zucchinis. 
• Cut the zucchinis in half and scoop them out with a spoon.
• Cut the tomatoes into small cubes.
• Cook the rice in boiling salted water.
• In a bowl, combine the rice, ground meat, tomatoes, half of the melted butter and spices. Season with salt and pepper.
• Use this stuffing to garnish the zucchinis threequarters of the way through.
• Chop the garlic and fry it in a saucepan with the rest of the butter. Season with salt and pepper. 
• Simmer for 5 minutes.
• Place the zucchinis in the pan and cover with water.
• Bring to a boil and simmer over a low heat for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• 5 minutes before the end of cooking, add the tomato paste and lemon juice.
• Serve hot.

The nutritionist's advice:

Vegetable skins contain many vitamins and fibers. You can eat the skin if you are careful to wash your vegetables carefully and by choosing organic produce.