KOUSA MIHSHI

Kousa Mihshi
Kousa Mihshi is stuffed courgettes (zucchini). The stuffing is made with lamb mince and rice.

It is also sometimes written as Kousa Mishi, or Kousa Mashi.

You will first need to remove the courgette cores with a knife, apple corer or zuccini corer.

1kg medium courgettes.
2 chopped onions
3 green chilles, sliced
1/2 kg lamb mince (or beef mince)
1kg red tomatoes, chopped
2 tbsp tomato puree
5 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
salt, pepper to taste
2 tsps paprika
Olive oil
1 cup short grain rice (long grain basmati if you prefer)
2 cups chicken stock
1 small potato (optional)

Cut off the courgette stems, and remove cores. Wash inside and out.

Fry the onion in oil, add the green chillis and mince, fry till browned. Stir in the rice, parsley and season with salt and pepper. Allow mixture to cool.

Use this mixture to fill the courgettes, about 3/4 full. Although not often mentioned, I prefer to plug each courgette with a small piece of potato - cut the potato into little cubes, just the right size to 'plug' and close each courgette.

Now fry the chopped garlic, add tomatoes and tomato puree. Place the courgettes in the pot, cover with the chicken stock and simmer for 1 hour. You may need to add more chicken stock depending on the size of your pot.

Serve the courgettes and the sauce separately, or serve together in a large bowl.