• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cooking Gorgeous
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact Us
    • Media Mentions
  • Recipe Index
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Snapchat
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Cozy Soups
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Cozy Soups
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Cooking Gorgeous » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Kabak Dolması - Rice Stuffed Zucchini

    Published: Jul 23, 2024 by Ayla Clulee · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Kabak Dolması, or Rice-stuffed Zucchini (courgette in UK), is a traditional dish that brings together fresh zucchini and a flavorful filling made with rice, ground meat, fresh herbs, onions, and spices.

    5 pieces of kayak dolma served with yogurt

    This popular Middle Eastern dish is not only tasty but also surprisingly easy to make. It pairs wonderfully with yogurt and is truly worth trying. Made from everyday ingredients you likely already have at home, Kabak Dolması is also budget-friendly.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients You'll Need
    • How to Make Kabak Dolması - Rice Stuffed Zucchini?
    • Recipe Tips From the Chef
    • How to Serve Kabak Dolmasi?
    • Storage Instructions
    • Related Recipes
    • Kabak Dolması - Rice Stuffed Zucchini

    Kabak Dolması comes from Ottoman cuisine, where stuffing vegetables with rice, meat, onions, fresh herbs, and spices became popular. This method spread across the Middle East and Mediterranean, with each culture adding its twist. In Turkey, we enjoy dolmas hot or cold, often as part of a larger spread of small dishes called meze.

    kabak dolmasi - rice stuffed zucchinis served with a bowl of salad

    Ingredients You'll Need

    Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with measurements, complete recipe method, recipe notes, and nutritional information.

    labelled picture of ingredients for kabak dolmasi
    • Zucchini (courgette)- Select medium-sized zucchinis that are firm and free of blemishes. These will be easier to hollow out and will hold their shape better during cooking.
    • Ground meat - I prefer using ground beef or lamb with high fat content but you can use lean meat and add a couple of tablespoon of olive oil. Finely chopped lamb or beef meat works great too.
    • Rice - You can use any short-grain rice or pudding rice for this recipe. Wash the rice under running cold water to get rid of the starch before adding it to the filling.
    • Onions - They are the essential ingredient for a flavoursome dolma filling! You can use finely chopped brown, yellow, or white onion. Shallots are a great option as well.
    • Tomato paste - It is the staple of Turkish cooking. It adds an umami flavor to the dishes and bright red color. You can find it in Turkish or Middle Eastern shops. You can also purchase it from Amazon.
    • Herbs - I use a mixture of dill and parsley. Other options are basil, oregano, mint, or/and chives.

    How to Make Kabak Dolması - Rice Stuffed Zucchini?

    Coring and stuffing the zucchinis may take a little bit of time but it is very easy to make them. To achieve the best results you need to follow a few simple steps and tips:

    Rinse the zucchinis thoroughly, trim off the ends, and cut them into 2 or 3 pieces, depending on the length of the zucchinis. I prefer peeling my zucchinis but it is absolutely fine to leave the skin on if you like.

    zucchinis are washed, peeled, and cut

    Using a small spoon, melon baller, or an apple corer, carefully hollow out the centers, leaving about ¼ inch of the shell. Be gentle to avoid piercing the skin.

    zucchinis are cored with a melon baller

    To prepare the stuffing, rinse the rice under cold running water until the water runs clear. Let it drain on a colander, and then transfer it into a large bowl. Add the ground meat, chopped onions, salt, freshly ground pepper, paprika, tomato paste, olive oil (optional), 1 cup of water, and chopped parsley to the bowl.

    kabak dolmasi stuffing ingredients placed in a bowl

    Mix everything very well until nicely combined.

    rice mixture for kabak dolma

    Using a small spoon, carefully stuff each zucchini with the rice mixture, leaving a little space at the top for the rice to expand during cooking. Place the stuffed zucchinis upright in a large pot.

    stuffed zucchinis are placed in a pot

    Pour the water and tomato paste mixture into the pot, just enough to come about halfway up the sides of the zucchinis. Cover the pot with a lid and bring the liquid to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 40-45 minutes, or until the zucchinis are tender and the rice is fully cooked.

    stuffed zucchinis cooked until the rice and the zucchinis are tender

    Let the stuffed zucchinis to rest for five minutes before serving with a few dollops of yogurt and a bowl of salad on the side.

    Recipe Tips From the Chef

    • Select medium-sized zucchinis that are firm and free of blemishes.
    • While zucchini is traditional, you can use other vegetables such as bell peppers, tomatoes, or eggplants for a colorful and varied presentation.
    • Using ground beef or lamb with high-fat content will add extra flavor to your stuffed zucchini.
    • While coring the zucchinis, be gentle to avoid piercing the skin.
    • The cooking time highly depends on the size of your zucchini, check the doneness after simmering them for 30 minutes.

    How to Serve Kabak Dolmasi?

    A dollop of plain yogurt on the side complements the flavors beautifully. I usually serve kabak dolma alongside a fresh salad, such as Persian Shirazi Salad, Lebanese Fattoush Salad, or Coban Salatasi (Turkish Shepherd's Salad). Don't forget to mop up the juices with a slice of crusty bread, such as Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread or Turkish Pide Bread - Ramazan Pidesi.

    Storage Instructions

    Just like Rice Stuffed Onions - Sogan Dolmasi and Kuru Patlican Dolmasi - Stuffed Dried Eggplant, you can store Kabak Dolması in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat the leftovers, place them in a covered pot with a splash of water or broth and gently simmer on low heat until heated thoroughly.

    Related Recipes

    For more delicious stuffed vegetable recipes why not try:

    • Zeytinyagli Enginar Dolmasi - Stuffed Artichokes
    • Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers (Biber Dolmasi)
    • Meat stuffed grape leaves (dolmas)served with a dollop of yoghurt
      Meat Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmas)
    • Karniyarik - Meat Stuffed Eggplants

    Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below, tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram, and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.

    I hope you enjoy the process of making this delicious Kabak Dolması - Rice Stuffed Zucchini recipe as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂 

    Bon appétit! / Afiyet olsun!

    Want to Save This Recipe?

    Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!

    Save Recipe

    By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Cooking Gorgeous

    Kabak Dolması - Rice Stuffed Zucchini

    Ayla Clulee
    Kabak Dolması, or Rice-stuffed Zucchini (courgette in UK), is a traditional dish that brings together fresh zucchini and a flavorful filling made with rice, ground meat, fresh herbs, onions, and spices.
    5 from 1 vote
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 25 minutes mins
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Asian, Greek, Lebanese, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Turkish
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 257 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 6 medium zucchini
    • 150 g ground meat
    • 1 large onion (finely chopped)
    • 100 g short grain rice
    • 1 ½ tablespoon tomato paste
    • ¾ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • 2 tablespoon chopped parsley
    • 1 cup water (to add to the filling)
    • 1 tbsp tomato paste diluted with 1 cup water (to cook the zucchinis)

    Instructions
     

    • Rinse the zucchinis thoroughly, trim off the ends, and cut them into 2 or 3 pieces, depending on the length of the zucchinis. I prefer peeling my zucchinis but it is absolutely fine to leave the skin on if you like.
    • Using a small spoon, melon baller, or an apple corer, carefully hollow out the centers, leaving about ¼ inch of the shell. Be gentle to avoid piercing the skin.
    • To prepare the stuffing, rinse the rice under cold running water until the water runs clear. Let it drain on a colander, and then transfer it into a large bowl.
    • Add the ground meat, chopped onions, salt, freshly ground pepper, paprika, tomato paste, olive oil (optional), 1 cup of water, and chopped parsley to the bowl.
    • Mix everything very well until nicely combined.
    • Using a small spoon, carefully stuff each zucchini with the rice mixture, leaving a little space at the top for the rice to expand during cooking.
    • Place the stuffed zucchinis upright in a large pot.
    • Pour the water and tomato paste mixture into the pot, just enough to come about halfway up the sides of the zucchinis.
    • Cover the pot with a lid and bring the liquid to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 40-45 minutes, or until the zucchinis are tender and the rice is fully cooked.
    • Let the stuffed zucchinis to rest for a few minutes before serving with a few dollops of yogurt and a bowl of salad on the side.

    Notes

    • Select medium-sized zucchinis that are firm and free of blemishes.
    • While zucchini is traditional, you can use other vegetables such as bell peppers, tomatoes, or eggplants for a colorful and varied presentation.
    • Using ground beef or lamb with high fat content will add extra flavour to your stuffed zucchinis.
    • While coring the zucchinis, be gentle to avoid piercing the skin.
    • The cooking time highly depends on the size of your zucchini, check the doneness after simmering them for 30 minutes.
    • You can store Kabak Dolması in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 257kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 13gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 539mgPotassium: 1067mgFiber: 5gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 869IUVitamin C: 60mgCalcium: 79mgIron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cookingorgeous or tag #cookingorgeous!
    « Easy Homemade Flatbread Recipes
    25 Easy and Delicious Chicken Recipes for Busy Weeknights »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Elaine Hedges

      August 21, 2024 at 3:40 am

      5 stars
      Even my picky eater son loved it! Thank you for the recipe 🙂

      Reply
    5 from 1 vote

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to Cooking Gorgeous, where delicious easy-to-follow recipes and culinary inspiration await you! My name is Ayla Clulee, a passionate and professional Cordon Bleu-trained chef, recipe developer, and food content creator with decades of experience. I am based in the UK, and I'm thrilled to have you here.

    The kitchen is my happy place and cooking is my therapy.

    More about me →

    Soup Recipes

    • Greek Chicken Lemon Soup - Avgolemono
    • Arpa Şehriye Çorbası - Turkish Orzo Soup
    • Turkish Tarhana Soup - Tarhana Çorbası
    • Homemade Turkish Tarhana Powder Recipe
    • Moroccan Harira Lamb and Chickpeas Soup
    • chicken and dumpling soup served in a bowl
      Easy Chicken and Dumpling Soup Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy
    • FAQs

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Cooking Gorgeous

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.