Pasta Ca Cucuzza
Madrina Sylvia and Nonni grow their own cucuzza every summer...One day I was over and I looked at the cucuzza vine and saw these two huge cucuzza's hanging! I picked them and brought them into the house and yelled, "Now this is a cucuzza!!" Nonni was so surprised and couldn't believe how big they were! Madrina Sylvia said she didn't even see them there!! LoL
How could you not see THESE???? Well, you know what we made that night! A Pasta Ca Cucuzza!!! It's usually a summer dish but I like it in the winter too!!! When I try to explain what it is in English, I just say its a vegetable stew.
I think I was in my 20's when I realized that cucuzza was called squash in English!!! We never used the American words to describe things in my house.
There are still words in Italian that I use on a daily basis since I am so used to referring to them in Italian all my life. My kids now call them by their Italian names as well. It's all part of growing up in an Italian family.
I never knew a "scula pasta" was called a colander! I never knew that a "moppina" is really called a kitchen towel! A "vuota pesce" is a spatula! When I sweep the floor I use a "scoppa and a paletta" to pick up the stuff off the floor! Black coffee is espresso and brown coffee is American coffee. LoL
Getting back to the cucuzza, you can also use zucchini to make "A Pasta Ca Cucuzza" in the winter. It's just as good and filled with tons of vitamins. Its a healthy stew for the whole family to enjoy and you can also put it in the blender for the baby and he/she can enjoy a nice, healthy meal!
RECIPE ALERT
Chop 3-4 zucchini into cubes
Chop 3-4 vine tomatoes into cubes (are out seeds)
Slice 2 scallions into thin slices (white part and some green)
Cut 3 large potatoes into cubes
Add some olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
Add 4 whole fresh basil leaves (or sprinkle some italian seasoning)
Mix all together in a large pot and let simmer, remember to mix occasionally. When the vegetables are cooked half way through, add some water to the pot and put on medium heat until it boils.
When the water is boiling add you broken spaghetti (or any choice of pasta appropriate for soup).
Let the pasta cook and serve! Make sure you add Ricotta Salata to top off each bowl of soup!!!
***Note: Since I put the potatoes in it you don't really need to put pasta so its up to you!***
***Note: You can also put this into the blender and feed it to your baby!! Great way to get your little one to eat their veggies!!
The Ricotta Salata really makes the dish so I highly suggest you make sure you use this particular cheese!! Eat this with a nice loaf of semolina and your set!! When you're done eating your soup you can also eat some "pane cu formaggio" (bread and cheese) it was my favorite after school snack as a kid and still is today!!
BUON APPETITO!! ENJOY!!