This Cretan style zucchini dish/meze is a summer favorite. Cretans create magic with courgettes and this is no exception.
3 medium-sized courgettes, peeled and ribboned. Do not bind the soft, seedy inside, but only the firm flesh. Save the semi-seeded cores for the mucver (we don’t want the peel because it may have a different cooking time than the zucchini pulp)
1/4 cup baldo, arborio, if not jasmine rice, soaked in hot water for at least 20 minutes
3-4 green onions, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
~1/4 cup fresh dill, finely chopped
~1/4 or less fresh mint, finely chopped
1/2 cup olive oil
juice of one lemon
salt
-Soak 1/4 cup rice in hot water.
-Peel and ribbon the courgettes. Sprinkle a little salt and let it rest.
-In a saucepan, heat half the olive oil, about 1/4 cup, and add the green onions. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
-Rinse the rice after at least 20 minutes in hot water and add it to the pot.
It is important to soak the rice in hot water, DO NOT skip this step. We must reduce the cooking times of the rice to prevent the courgettes from melting while the rice is cooking.
-Add the garlic to the rice.
-Cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
-Add 1/2 cup of water and let cook covered over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes. Check every now and then to see if there is water.
-After 10 minutes the rice should be half cooked. Add the courgette ribbons, lemon juice and a little salt. Mix and cook covered for another 10 minutes. No extra water is needed as the zucchini will release some of it.
-After ten minutes both the rice and the courgettes will be cooked. We don’t want the zucchini to be too soft.
-Turn off, add half the dill and mint, mix and leave to cool to room temperature.
-Serve it on a large round or oval plate. Pour the rest of the olive oil over the top and sprinkle the rest of the fresh herbs. Salt to taste. It is good at room temperature or cold. It’s a great dish for hot summer days but also a great meze/side dish. You can enjoy it with a slice of good bread or with cold yogurt. Enjoy your meal!
