Kousa Mehshi

Kousa Mehshi — literally "stuffed zucchini" — is one of the most beloved dishes in Lebanese home cooking. Small, tender zucchini are hollowed out by hand and packed with a fragrant mixture of short-grain rice, minced lamb, seven-spice, and fresh herbs. They're arranged in a deep pot and slow-simmered in a rich, gently spiced tomato broth until the zucchini are silky and the rice is perfectly cooked through.

This is the kind of dish that takes time and real skill — hollowing dozens of zucchini without breaking them, seasoning the filling with the right balance, arranging them so they cook evenly. It's the work that defines true Lebanese tabkha (home cooking), and exactly why ordering from a cook like Mirna makes all the difference.

The broth alone — golden, fragrant, slightly tangy from the tomatoes — is something people mop up with flatbread long after the zucchini are gone. Each tanjara serves 4–5 people generously and is best ordered a day in advance.