
Zucchini Boats with Lemon Chicken and Almond
An original recipe of zucchini boats filled with sautéed chicken, mushrooms, spinach, toasted almond, and a fresh hint of lemon. It is flavorful, balanced, and designed for the Diabetic-Friendly category, with an easy preparation and a golden finish without cheese.
Important notice: This recipe is not medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional.
Ingredients
- 4 approx. 800 g medium zucchini (cut a lo largo)
- 450 g skinless chicken breast (diced small)
- 150 g mushrooms (chopped finely)
- 60 g fresh spinach (chopped)
- 80 g onion (finely chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
- 30 g sliced almonds (lightly tostadas)
- 20 g almond flour (for the acabado)
- 30 ml olive oil (divided)
- 30 ml lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 cdita lemon zest (finely grated)
- 2 g dried oregano
- 2 g sweet paprika
- 4 g salt (or to taste)
- 1 g black pepper (freshly ground)
- 10 g fresh parsley (chopped)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 200°C / 400°F. Wash the zucchini, cut them lengthwise, and scoop out some of the flesh with a spoon to form boats. Finely chop the removed flesh and set aside.
- 2
Place the zucchini boats on a baking tray. Brush them with 1 tablespoon olive oil, season with part of the salt and pepper, and bake for 10 minutes at 200°C / 400°F.
- 3
Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes; add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more.
- 4
Add the diced chicken, dried oregano, sweet paprika, the remaining salt, and pepper. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring, until the chicken is no longer pink.
- 5
Stir in the mushrooms and the chopped zucchini flesh. Cook for 4 minutes until they release moisture and reduce slightly.
- 6
Add the spinach, lemon juice, lemon zest, and half of the parsley. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the spinach wilts. Remove from the heat and mix in the sliced almonds.
- 7
Fill the zucchini boats with the chicken mixture. Sprinkle the almond flour on top to create a light crust.
- 8
Bake again for 12 to 15 minutes at 200°C / 400°F, until the zucchini is tender and the top looks lightly golden.
- 9
Remove from the oven, finish with the remaining fresh parsley, and let rest for 3 minutes before serving.
Chef tips
For a firmer texture, do not scoop the zucchini too deeply. Lightly toasting the almonds before mixing them in deepens the flavor and adds better contrast.
Substitutions
You can substitute the chicken with ground turkey. Spinach can be replaced with tender chard. If you do not have almond flour, use finely ground almonds.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageCosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
Illustrative imageTempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
Illustrative imageT-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
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