stuffed cucumbers and zucchinis with carrots

2020-03-21

This is very similar to the 1st recipe on this page.

I added zucchinis, but the main difference is that I served them as a meal instead of soup.

a. the base soup

I added carrots to the soup, and also used grey zucchinis to stuff instead of just cucumbers.
I did NOT use tomatoes, and that improved the soup considerably imo.
I served the soup without the stuffed cucumbers and zucchinis which made it a celery-potato soup with some extra flavors. (Pic1) It was delicious!

INGREDIENTS

This is what you need for 6-8 servings:

the meat mix:

1 1/2 lb. ground meat (50-50 pork & beef)
1/2 lb. onion & bell pepper mix, chopped small
S&P, spices of your choice
I used taco spice mix

optional:

1-2 eggs
1 cup breadcrumbs

the soup:

1/2 celery head
5 medium potatoes, peeled, diced
3 large carrots, sliced thin
S&P
4 medium cucumbers, halved, cored
3 small grey zucchinis, cored

Pic1: the base soup: celery, carrots, potatoes

Directions

Follow the same method as the 1st recipe on this page.
And yes, I should have peeled the cucumbers. I forgot. It's no deal breaker, though.

2020-03-21

Pic2: ingredients, minus carrots
Pic3: meatballs for frying
Pic4: stuffed cucumbers and zucchinis

Prepare the meat mix with seasoning, eggs, breadcrumbs ...
Peel and core the cucumbers. Don't peel the zucchinis.
Core and stuff the cucumbers & zucchinis.
Roll meatballs with the remainder of the meat mix.

Pic5: start the soup (celery, cucumber hearts, 1 whole onion)
Pic6: add diced potatoes, sliced carrots
Pic7: add stuffed cucumbers & zucchinis

Combine celery, cucumber hearts, 1 whole onion with 3 qts. water in a 6-qt. stock pot.
Add potatoes, sliced carrots.
Add the stuffed cucumbers and zucchinis.
Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.

Pic8+9: fry the meatballs
Pic10: add the fried meatballs to the soup

Meanwhile, pan-fry the meatballs in olive oil until dark brown on both sides.
Add the meatballs to the soup.
Simmer 5-10 more minutes until the meatballs are fully cooked.

Pic11-13: served

Serve and enjoy.

b. the meal

The meatballs, stuffed zucchinis & cucumbers were served with the drained soup vegetables as dinner. (Pic14) I did make gravy with the meatball drippings (Pic15) to mash into the potatoes. (Pic18+19)

2020-03-21

Pic14: the meal, served without gravy or broth
Pic15: making gravy wit the meatball drippings
Pic16: the meal, served with gravy

Drain an appropriate amount of the soup vegetables.
Serve them with the stuffed cucumbers and meatballs.
Enjoy.

Optional:

Make gravy with the meat drippings by adding flour and water.
Boil until the mixture thickens.
Serve the gravy over / with the potatoes / vegetables.

Pic17-19: gravy, drowned mashed potatoes

When I have gravy, I like to mash it into my potatoes and drown them.

See also: Deming, NM gardens, animals and more and avemariasongs.org

See also: Deming, NM gardens, animals and more
and avemariasongs.org