Rice stuffed round zucchini (courgettes) with cherry tomatoes and basil

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I'm back!!!!!!! I've been so busy cooking around ... I had to give up updating my blog for a few months. In the meanwhile I have collected an incredible amount on nice recipes to share with you ;)
A while ago I've tried something special with round courgettes and rice...added cherry tomatoes (pachino) and basil... here is the delicious result of my experiment!

Round zucchini ou "courgettes" are usually stuffed with meat, this is a nice variation suitable for our vegetarians or vegans friends, only rice, tomatoes, olive oil, fresh basil, garlic and courgettes of course, grated parmesan cheese is an optional but it gives a great taste to the filling, I suggest you to add it! It is a colourful, healthy, complete meal, easy to prepare and quickly done. Let's start!

Serving 4
Ingredients:
4 round zucchini (courgettes)
16 cherry tomatoes (I prefer organic)
8-10 leaves of fresh basil
1 or 2 garlic cloves (depending on your taste)
6 Tbs of extra virgin olive oil
6 Tbs of rice (Carnaroli or any rice for risotto, do not use Basmati or Thai rice!)
4 Tbs of grated Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano 
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 glass of white dry wine (optional)

Instructions:
1) Wash and dry the courgettes. Cut the upper part of each zucchini and set aside, with a knife and a spoon carve the pulp of the zucchini, set the empy zucchini aside.
2) Cut the pulp in very small pieces, mix it with the rice, half of the cherry tomatoes diced. Add salt , pepper and 6 leaves of fresh basil cut in pieces. Pour 4 Tbs of olive oil in a saucepan, warm up and add the rice mixture. Cook for about 5 minutes. Cut the fire, add the grated Parmigiano and set aside

3)  Place the 4 zucchini on an oiled oven tray (or parchment paper), fill the zucchini with the cooked rice mix, gently cover with the top, place the remaing rice and cherry tomatoes around the zucchini, drizzle the zucchini with some olive oil, 1/4 glass of white dry wine. Add salt and pepper, place in the oven to 180C° (350F°) for about 45 minutes.

Here are your nicely cooked zucchini, place each zucchini on a serving plate with some rice and tomatoes. Enjoy this tasteful simple recipe... buon appetito!