How to Cook A Traditional Palestinian Dish Kousa: A Traditional Middle Eastern Dish

Level: Medium

Total: 1 hour

Active: 30 Min

Yield: 3 to 4 servings

Kousa, also known as Lebanese squash or zucchini, is a staple in Palestinian cuisine. This dish involves stuffing the squash with a savoury mixture of rice and ground beef, then simmering it in a flavorful tomato broth.

“ What I love about this recipe is its versatility. You can make it vegan-friendly by omitting the meat, or add ground beef for a heartier version. The tangy tomato broth paired with the savory filling creates a balance of flavors that’s truly irresistible! ”
❤︎

Ingredients

Directions

⭕️ 8 Kousas (small or medium-sized) ⭕️ 20 ounces Tomato Juice (or tomato paste mixed with water) ⭕️ 1 pound Ground Sirloin ⭕️ ½ cup Uncooked Long Grain White Rice (rinsed) ⭕️ 1 teaspoon Salt ⭕️ ½ teaspoon Pepper ⭕️ 6 cloves Garlic (grated) ⭕️ 2 tablespoons Dried Mint ⭕️ 2 tablespoons Lemon Juice (fresh squeezed) ⭕️ Plain yoghurt (to serve, optional)

1 Start by preparing your squash for stuffing. Wash and dry them, then cut off all the tops. Hollow out the insides using a zucchini corer, being careful not to puncture the bottom or sides. 2 In a large bowl, combine your ground beef, uncooked rice, grated garlic, dried mint, salt, and pepper. This will be your stuffing. 3 Stuff the rice and beef mixture into the hollowed-out kousa, leaving about 1½ inches of space at the top for the rice to cook and expand. 4 In a large pot over medium-high heat, pour in the tomato juice. Then grate in the rest of the garlic and add in the rest of the dried mint. 5 Once tomato juice is boiling, gently add in the stuffed kousa squash as well as the lemon juice. 6 Bring back to a boil before reducing heat and simmering for about 35 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 444kcal, Carbohydrates: 50g, Protein: 20g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 40mg, Sodium: 2041mg, Potassium: 1782mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 13g, Vitamin A: 1386IU, Vitamin C: 92mg, Calcium: 112mg, Iron: 4mg. Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

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