Stuffed squash facts for kids
Stuffed squash
|
|
| Alternative names | Stuffed zucchini |
|---|---|
| Type | Dolma |
| Course | Main course |
| Region or state | the former Ottoman domain: the Balkans, Egypt, Turkey, and the Levant |
| Associated national cuisine | Ottoman cuisine |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Summer squashes, minced meat, rice |
| Ingredients generally used | onions, spices, tomato sauce |
| Similar dishes | Stuffed peppers |
Stuffed squash is a yummy dish found in many countries. It's also called stuffed zucchini, courgette, or mahshi. This food is popular in places that were once part of the Ottoman Empire. This includes countries from the Balkans to Egypt and the Levant.
Stuffed squash is a type of food called dolma. Dolma means "stuffed thing." This dish uses different kinds of squash or zucchini. They are filled with rice and sometimes minced meat. People cook it on the stove or in the oven. If it has meat, it's usually served hot as a main meal. If it doesn't have meat, it's often called an "olive-oil dish" and can be eaten warm or at room temperature.
Contents
How to Make Stuffed Squash
To make stuffed squash, you first need to prepare the squashes. For larger, cylinder-shaped squashes, you carefully remove the inside parts and seeds. This makes a hollow space for the filling.
The way you fill and cook stuffed squash is much like making other stuffed dishes. For example, it's similar to making stuffed peppers or sarma (stuffed cabbage rolls). Sometimes, people cook stuffed squash and stuffed peppers together. This makes a delicious mixed dish!
Names for Stuffed Squash
This dish has different names depending on the language. Most names simply mean "stuffed squash."
- In Croatian and Serbian, it's Punjene tikvice.
- In Albanian, it's Kungulleshka të mbushura.
- In Macedonian, it's Polneti tikvichki.
- In Bulgarian, it's Pălneni tikvichki.
- In Greek, it's Gemista kolokythakia.
- In Turkish, it's Kabak dolması.
- In Arabic, it's kousa mahshi.
-
Kousa mahshi, stuffed zucchini
Different Kinds of Stuffed Squash
There are many ways to make stuffed squash.
- In the Levant region, people often add mint and garlic to the filling. This gives the dish a fresh, strong flavor.
- In Cyprus, people even stuff the flowers of the marrow plant! This is a unique way to enjoy the plant.
Some types of squash are grown especially for stuffing. For example, a type called 'Cousa' is very popular in the Middle East. Its fruits are picked when they are almost ripe. Then, they are stuffed with meat and other ingredients and baked.
Images for kids
-
Stuffed squash
See also
In Spanish: Calabazas rellenas para niños
