These zucchini boats done in air fryer are such a tasty main or appetiser. This recipe is keto and easy to put together. It is very versatile too and can be adjust to one’s preferences.
Zucchini is one of my favourite vegetables to cook in the air fryer. You can try these roasted zucchini without breading, zucchini fritters and zucchini fries. They are all delicious.
Making zucchini boats is so easy. You can vary the stuffing any way you like.
Tips to Make Perfect Zucchini Boats
- Choose green zucchinis which are not too big. This is because we want the zucchini to be tender and not old and tough.
- Scoop out the flesh using a spoon. Don’t use a knife as it will be uneven. Carefully scoop out all flesh to just leave the skin with a bit of flesh and a large cavity that you can fill with.
- If you are using only vegetables for filling. You can cut them into small pieces and directly air fry the stuffing.
- In case you are using lentils, beans, soy flakes, tempeh or diced tofu, it is best to cook out the stuffing beforehand and let it cool down before stuffing the boats.
- Use lots of cheese in this recipe. It makes the zucchini boats delectable. Use vegan cheese if vegan.
- Use chopped onion, minced garlic and ginger and spices like cajun spice, peri peri spice or sauces like harissa, sriracha or chili garlic sauce for seasoning your stuffing. Just salt, pepper, garlic powder and some dried herbs work well too.
- I prefer to precook the zucchini boats before adding the stuffing. I have found that the zucchini boats taste better this way.
- This could be a great keto dish if you use only protein filling with cheese in zucchini boats.
Storage:
You can easily store the leftovers for upto a day in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Heat it through before serving.
Since zucchini is a watery vegetable, I do not recommend freezing these.
Stepwise Pictures
Take each zucchini and scoop out the flesh with seeds. If the flesh is tender, I use it in the stuffing else I discard it.
If the zucchinis are longer, you can cut them into halves.
To prepare the stuffing
Heat 2 tsp. oil in a pan. Add 1 chopped onion with minced ginger and garlic.
Saute for about 3 minutes till browned. Add chopped tofu. Add Harissa sauce and some Sriracha sauce. I like them hot.
You could use a milder Thai Sweet Chili sauce or any seasoning of choice.
You can add any chopped vegetables that you like broccoli, mushroom, pepper, corn, beans here and cook it down. Let the stuffing cool down completely before using.
Air fryer Instructions
Preheat air fryer at 360F or 160C for 5 minutes. Brush scooped out zucchini boats with a bit of olive oil on both sides.
Sprinkle salt and pepper and air fry at 360F or 160C for 5 minutes.
Take out and keep aside. Fill the boats with stuffing that has cooled down. Top with lots of grated cheese.
Use parmesan or processed cheese. You can use vegan cheese as well.
Carefully place stuffed zucchini boats in air fryer basket.
Air fry at 200C or 390F for about 6 minutes till the cheese browns and everything looks done.
Take them out and serve hot with marinara sauce if you are craving some pasta or pizza or just have it as it is with a dip of choice.
It is so delicious.
Oven Instructions
Preheat oven at 400F. Lay scooped out zucchini boats on an oven-proof dish. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle salt and pepper.
Now add the cooled stuffing and top with cheese. Bake at 400F for about 25-30 minutes. Your zucchini boats are ready to serve.
📖 Recipe Card
Air fryer Zucchini Boats
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 zucchini
- 8 oz. diced tofu tofu/boiled lentils/beans about 225 gm.
- 1 onion
- 1 tsp. minced garlic and ginger
- 1 tablespoon Harissa sauce adjust as per taste
- 2 tsp. Sriracha sauce optional
- Salt to taste
- ½ tsp. Pepper
- 2 tsp. Oil
- ½ cup cheese or vegan cheese
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Instructions
- Take each zucchini and scoop out the flesh with seeds. If the flesh is tender, I use it in the stuffing else I discard it. If the zucchinis are longer, you can cut them into halves.
To prepare the stuffing
- Heat 2 tsp. Oil in a pan. Add 1 chopped onion with minced ginger and garlic. Saute for about 3 minutes till browned. Add crumbled tofu/boiled lentils/beans or boiled soy curls. Add Harissa sauce and some Sriracha sauce. I like them hot.
- You could use a milder Thai Sweet Chili sauce or any seasoning of choice.
- You can add any chopped vegetables that you like broccoli, mushroom, pepper, corn, beans here and cook it down.
- Let the stuffing cool down completely before using.
Air fryer Instructions
- Preheat air fryer at 360F or 160C for 5 minutes. Brush scooped out zucchini boats with a bit of olive oil on both sides. Sprinkle salt and pepper and air fry at 360F or 160C for 5 minutes.
- Take out and keep aside.
- Fill the boats with stuffing that has cooled down. Top with lots of grated cheese. Use parmesan or processed cheese. You can use vegan cheese as well.
- Carefully place stuffed zucchini boats in air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 200C or 390F for about 6 minutes till the cheese browns and everything looks done.
- Take them out and serve hot with marinara sauce if you are craving some pasta or pizza or just have it as it is with a dip of choice.
- It is so delicious.
Oven Instructions
- Preheat oven at 400F. Lay scooped out zucchini boats on an oven-proof dish. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle salt and pepper.
- Now add the cooled stuffing and top with cheese. Bake at 400F for about 25-30 minutes. Your zucchini boats are ready to serve.
Notes
2. Scoop out the flesh using a spoon. Don’t use a knife as it will be uneven. Carefully scoop out all flesh to just leave the skin with a bit of flesh and a large cavity that you can fill with.
3. If you are using only vegetables for filling. You can cut them into small pieces and directly air fry the stuffing.
In case you are using lentils, beans, soy flakes, tempeh, tofu or paneer, it is best to cook out the stuffing beforehand and let it cool down before stuffing the boats.
4. Use lots of cheese in this recipe. It makes the zucchini boats delectable. Use vegan cheese if vegan.
5. Use chopped onion, minced garlic and ginger and spices like cajun spice, peri peri spice or sauces like harissa, sriracha or chili garlic sauce for seasoning your stuffing. Just salt, pepper, garlic powder and some dried herbs work well too.
6. I prefer to precook the zucchini boats before adding the stuffing. I have found that the zucchini boats taste better this way.
7. This could be a great keto dish if you use only protein filling with cheese in zucchini boats. 8. In case you don't have an air fryer, you can make these in the oven. Instructions are provided.
Nutrition
If you liked the recipe, leave a star * rating. Thanks.
kushigalu says
These air fryer zucchini boats look amazingly delicious. Great recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Rachna says
You're welcome!
Gina says
This cooked up perfect in the air fryer plus it was so tasty. I will be making again!
Rachna says
Thank you, Gina! Happy to hear that.
Janie says
This looks easy to make! I have paneer, vegan parmesan and zucchinis laying around in the fridge. So I'm totally making this for my snack to bring to work!
Rachna says
That sounds awesome! Happy snacking.
Anjali says
Such a great idea to make these zucchini boats in the air fryer instead of the oven! They were cooked perfectly and didn't get watery at all!
Ieva says
We cooked these with paneer and we made them spicy with a generous amount of harissa and sriracha! Lovely easy-to-follow recipe! Thanks 🙂
Rachna says
Thank you so much! Glad that you enjoyed it.