Round zucchini stuffed with mushrooms and spinach

                                                   6 portions

 Ingredients:

   6 round zucchini (try substituting wide cylinders of normal zucchini)

   10 large button or crimini mushrooms

   1 clove garlic

   1⁄2 C grated aged cheese

   Approx. 6 oz./175g spinach (enough to reduce to about 1 cup when cooked)

   1 onion

   20 leaves fresh basil     

  

 Procedure:

• Hollow out zucchini and dice bits you've just removed. Rub insides with clove of garlic.
• Clean, finely slice and sauté the mushrooms in 2 T melted butter, about 10 minutes, till soft, much reduced in volume and no liquid is left in pan. Season and empty into food processor.
• Use the same pan to sauté the diced onion and the zucchini bits in 1 T olive oil also about 10 minutes, lightly browned, reduced in volume and dry. Salt lightly and add to mushrooms. Pulse a few times until you have a homogenous mix but stop before you get a purée.
• Clean the spinach, spin dry if necessary, and wilt in a covered saucepan, stirring occasionally. Once wilted, continue cooking over medium heat without lid till water has evaporated.
• If necessary. Lift spinach mass onto cutting board and chop. Add to mushroom mix with handful of chopped basil and grated cheese. Check seasoning and stuff hollowed-­out zucchini. Optionally enhance flavour with lemon zest and juice, and thyme, or garlic.
• Bake stuffed zucchinis about 30 minutes at 375 F. If desired, top with more grated cheese when cooked, and place under broiler 2 minutes to melt the cheese.

 Wine Suggestion:

        Dry Rosé from Provence, Corsica or Languedoc. Young reds from the 

        Mediterranean.