Ground-Beef Stuffed Zucchini (Grandma's kitchen from Aleppo)

Ingredients

• 8 zucchini (ends trimmed)
• 1/2 kg ground-beef
• 1/4 C rice, uncooked
• 1 lemon, juice
• 3-4 clove garlic (finely chopped)
• 2 Tbs oil (for the meat filling)
• 2 Tbs oil (for cooking)
• 1 tsp salt and a pinch of pepper
• 1/4 C fresh mint, finely chopped, or 2-3 Tbs dried mint
• 2 Tbs water (for the meat filling)

Directions

1. Cut ends of zucchinis.
2. Cut zucchinis in halves.
3. Hollow out center of zucchinis leaving a thin shell.
4. Put rinsed and drained rice in a bowl.
5. Add ground-beef, salt, pepper, 2 Tbs water and 2 Tbs oil. Mix well to get a soft filling.
6. Stuff the zucchini shells up to 1/2 cm to the top. (Stuffing will expend during cooking)
7. Arrange stuffed zucchinis in a large pan.
8. Sprinkle the zucchinis with mint, garlic, salt and pepper.
9. Pour lemon juice and 2 Tbs oil.
10. Cover the zucchinis with water.
11. Cover the pan with lid.
12. At the beginning cook in medium heat. Afterwards lower heat. 
13. Cook for about 30 minutes.
14. Cook until zucchinis are firm tender, meat is cooked and all liquid is almost absorbed.