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September 16, 2021 — 21:31 PM
This clever take on the flavors of enchiladas uses zucchini in the place of tortillas—a swap that adds an extra dose of veggies. Plus, this replacement reduces the carbohydrates of the traditional recipe, for anyone who follows a low-carb lifestyle.
“Black beans, one of my top-two favorite legumes, are center stage in this creative dinner,” writes Cassy Joy Garcia in her new book Cook Once Dinner Fix. “They’re put to excellent use in some festive enchilada-stuffed zucchini boats.”
As for technique, “If you’ve ever attempted zucchini boats before, you know that there’s a bit of a trick to perfecting the method,” she writes. “In my opinion, not overcooking them is key. These boats are light, fresh, and gorgeous.”
The prep also calls for making more black beans than you actually need. Garcia recommends cooking them in a chili the next day, but you could use them in anything from veggie burgers to a delicious soup.
1 cup prepared red enchilada sauce (like this one from Siete)
4 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and soft seedy cores scraped out with a spoon
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
½ cup sour cream
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 1 lime)
1 avocado, sliced
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
Cook the black beans: Place the beans in a large pot and add water to cover. Set aside to soak for at least 8 hours or up to overnight.
Drain and rinse the beans, return them to the pot, and add fresh water to cover. Add the onion, garlic, bay leaf, and salt. Bring to a low boil over medium heat, then cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 to 1½ hours, until the beans are tender. Remove from the heat and discard the onion, garlic, and bay leaf. You’ll want to pull out 2½ cups of the beans to an airtight container and refrigerate to use in future meals.
Make the zucchini boats: Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
In a large bowl, stir together the remaining 2 cups beans and the enchilada sauce. Place the zucchini boats cut-side up in a large baking dish. Spoon the beans into the zucchini boats. Sprinkle the tops with the cheese. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the tops are bubbling and starting to brown and the zucchini is cooked through.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream, cumin, and lime juice.
Serve the zucchini boats drizzled with the cumin sour cream and garnished with the avocado and cilantro.
Note: If using canned black beans, there’s no need to cook them beforehand! Simply drain and rinse four cans of beans, then set aside 2½ cups to store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator to use for future meals!
