Ingredients

  • Vegetable oil cooking spray
  • Two 3/4-inch slices country style white bread, crusts removed, torn into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup whole milk, at room temperature
  • 3 large zucchini, trimmed, halved lengthwise
  • 1 orange bell pepper, halved lengthwise and seeded
  • 1 red bell pepper, halved lengthwise and seeded
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, halved lengthwise and seeded
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
  • 1 carrot, peeled and coarsely chopped
  • 1 stalk celery, coarsely chopped
  • 1 large shallot, peeled and coarsely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 1/3 cup white wine, such as pinot grigio
  • 1 pound ground turkey or ground beef
  • 1 large egg, beaten, at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan

Method

  • Place an oven rack in the center of the oven.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray 2 heavy baking sheets with vegetable oil cooking spray.
  • In a small bowl, combine the bread and milk.
  • Set aside to allow the bread to absorb the milk, about 15 minutes.
  • For the vegetables: Using a melon baller, remove the flesh from the zucchini, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges.
  • Reserve the flesh.
  • Place the zucchini and peppers, hollowed-out sides up, on the prepared baking sheets.
  • Season with the salt and pepper.
  • For the filling: Place the zucchini flesh in a food processor.
  • Add the garlic, carrot, celery, shallot, oregano, salt and pepper.
  • Blend until all the vegetables are finely chopped.
  • In a medium nonstick skillet, heat the oil over high heat.
  • Add the blended vegetable mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
  • Add the wine and cook until all the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes.
  • Set aside to cool.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the cooked vegetables, turkey, egg, 1 cup Parmesan and the bread mixture.
  • Using a wooden spoon, mix the ingredients until well combined.
  • Spoon the filling into the hollowed-out vegetables.
  • Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan on top of the filling.
  • Drizzle with olive oil and bake until the vegetables are tender and the tops are golden brown, 45 to 50 minutes.
  • Transfer the vegetables to a platter and serve.