Zucchine Ripiene al Ragù (Ragu Stuffed Courgette Boats)
Roasted courgette halves piled with meaty ragu and bubbling mozzarella. A hearty low carb dinner with no pasta needed.
Made with Slow cooked ragu. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time55 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.82 a head
- Oven200°C (180°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Halve the courgettes lengthways. Scoop out the middle with a teaspoon, leaving a shell about 1 cm thick. Chop the scooped flesh finely and keep it.
- 2
Brush the shells with the oil and season. Lay them cut side up on a baking tray and roast for 15 minutes, until just starting to soften.
15 min - 3
Warm your ready made ragu (see the base recipe) in a pan with the chopped courgette flesh for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring, until the flesh is soft and the sauce is thick again.
9 min - 4
Spoon the filling into the shells and top with the mozzarella and Parmesan.
- 5
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes more, until the cheese is golden and the filling is steaming hot all the way through.
17 min 30 s - 6
Scatter with torn basil and serve.
Tips
- Pre roasting the shells for 15 minutes stops them leaking water into the filling.
- Choose large, firm courgettes with a straight shape. Fat ones are easier to hollow out than thin ones.
- Cook the scooped flesh with the ragu. It disappears into the filling and adds no waste.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 90 minutes and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through, once only. Courgettes go soft on freezing, so these are best eaten fresh.
Questions
Can I make them dairy free?
Yes. Leave off the cheese and scatter 20 g of gluten free breadcrumbs mixed with a little olive oil on top instead. The dish is then gluten, dairy, egg and nut free.
What can I use instead of courgettes?
Aubergine halves, large peppers or beef tomatoes all work. Adjust the roasting time, as aubergines need about 25 minutes and peppers about 30.
Is this low carb?
It has no pasta, rice, bread or potato, so it suits a low carb way of eating. Check your ragu ingredients if you track closely.
More made with slow cooked ragu
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.