Sausage Stuffed Zucchini

• 5 medium zucchini
• 1 – 24 oz. jar of your favorite marinara sauce
• 4 Lean Hot Italian Turkey Sausages, casings removed (raw sausage, taken from a package of 5)
• ½ small red onion, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp. chopped garlic
• 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
• Reduced fat shredded Mozzarella cheese
• Grated parmesan cheese

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

Cut zucchini in half lengthwise and using a knife and spoon, scoop out the flesh, saving the flesh. Drop the zucchini halves into the boiling water and cook 1 minute. Remove from water and set aside.

Preheat oven to 400F.

Chop the zucchini flesh and set aside.

Put 1 cup of the sauce in the bottom of a sprayed 9x13 baking dish and place zucchini halves cut side up.

In a large sauté pan, brown the sausage over medium high heat, breaking it up as it cooks, until browned, 5 minutes – transfer to a bowl, draining any excess liquid. In the same pan, cook the onion, garlic and bell pepper for 2-3 minutes, until onions start to get translucent. Add chopped zucchini flesh, season with salt & freshly ground black pepper and cook 2-3 minutes longer. Add the sausage into the mixture and cook a few more minutes.

Using a spoon, fill each hollowed zucchini with the sausage mixture (about 1/3 cup each). Top each with 1 ½ tablespoons of sauce, 1 teaspoon grated parmesan, and 1 tablespoon shredded Mozzarella. Cover the pan with foil and bake 35 minutes, until cheese is melted, sauce is bubbly, and zucchini is cooked through. Remove foil, turn broiler to high and broil until cheese is lightly browned, 2 minutes.

ENJOY!