Kabak Kaliyah (Zucchini Dish)

  
Ingredients

• 1 big or 2 small onions - diced
• 1 clove garlic - crushed
• 2 lb ground beef
• 2 tbsps tomato paste
• 5 medium tomatoes - grated*
• 3 lb zucchini - preferably white
• olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup Mozzarella cheese (optional)

Bechamel Sauce

• 3 tbsps butter
• 3 tbsps flour 
• 3 cups milk 
• black pepper and salt to taste

*Substitute 2 cans of crushed or very small diced tomatoes. Make sure you strain the cans well.

Preparation

1. Saute the onions and garlic in olive oil. Add ground beef and when it's done add salt and pepper. Add tomatoes and the tomato paste and continue to cook for another 10 minutes. 
2. Meanwhile, prepare zucchinis. Traditionally, we remove the skin off the zucchini but you don't necessarily need to. Unless your zucchinis are waxed, then definitely go without the skin!
3. Cut zucchinis by half, lengthwise and fry them in your favorite cooking oil.

Prepare the White Sauce (Béchamel Sauce)

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the flour. Vigorously stirring, slowly pour milk. If you think the sauce is too thick, you may add some more milk.

Assembling

1. Place your fried zucchinis on an oven safe dish. Put a tablespoonful or two from the ground beef mixture. 
2. Once you're done with stuffing your zucchinis, pour the bechamel sauce over to cover. 
3. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top. (We didn't have any cheese when we were making this though!)
4. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes or so until the cheese is melted.