Dried zucchini, pancetta and potatoes in tomato sauce is a typical dish made by my family in the south of Italy. Make use of dried zucchini in a unique and delicious way!
Last summer, I showed you how my family in Italy dries zucchini in the sunshine, and how I now follow the tradition in California, and promised a later post on how to use that dried zucchini.
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Well, I had originally intended on writing the post in the winter (because that’s when you want to eat the dried zucchini, not in summer when there’s plenty of the fresh stuff around), but I just never did it.
So here it is (better late than never), and I’m hoping that seeing this dish and how wonderful it looks, now, will inspire you to dry some zucchini for the winter (see, there is a method to my madness)!
Dried zucchini tastes completely different than fresh, and other than trying it yourself, I couldn’t even attempt to describe the flavor, only to say that it is deliciously unique, and has a great texture, and isn’t at all mushy, as fresh zucchini can get.
You can make your own pancetta to use in this dish, or buy some instead (or skip it to make it vegetarian or vegan), but use good quality potatoes and tomatoes (fresh, or a jar from Italy) or you will surely be disappointed.
I put the “tomato sauce” in quotes, because you can make this dish, without the tomatoes. I love it both ways, so give each way a try and see if you like one style better than the other.
Dried Zucchini, Pancetta & Potatoes
(in Tomato Sauce)
Ingredients
- 2 cups (about 2 oz) dried zucchini
- 2 tablespoons or so of good quality extra virgin olive oil (like De Cecco)
- 2 or 3 large cloves of fresh garlic
- hot pepper, fresh or dried (optional)
- about 4 oz pancetta (omit if vegetarian)
- 2 or 3 medium to large, good quality potatoes
- about 3/4 cup (6 oz) tomato puree (fresh or good quality tomato puree in jars)
- about 3/4 cup (6 oz) water, or more
- 1 or 2 bay leaves
- Kosher or sea salt
- black pepper
Start by soaking the dried zucchini with very hot water (not from the tap-heat it up).
Set aside for about half an hour or until the zucchini has softened.
Meanwhile, slice the pancetta, and cut the potatoes into bite sized pieces and set aside.
(If the potatoes will be cut more than a few minutes ahead of when you’ll be using them, keep them in a bowl covered in water, so they don’t turn brown; this applies to every recipe).
Rinse the zucchini and drain well; set aside.
In a medium sized pot over medium to medium-high heat, add the olive oil and fry off the garlic, bay leaves, pancetta and hot pepper, if using.
Brown the garlic and pancetta, just a little, then add the zucchini.
Next, add the tomatoes or puree and then the water (if you would like to make this without tomatoes, just add water at this point).
It will look like this. Add salt, and bring it to a boil; then lower to a simmer.
Add the potatoes, a little more salt, and stir well. Cover and simmer until the potatoes are cooked, stirring occasionally. If it is drying up too much and the potatoes aren’t cooked, add more water as needed.
Remove from heat, taste to see if it needs more salt, and add black pepper. Serve hot.
Buon Appetito!!
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Dried Zucchini, Pancetta and Potatoes (in Tomato Sauce)
A typical pancetta, zucchini and potato dish made in Italy.
Ingredients
- 2 cups (about 2 oz) dried zucchini
- 2 tablespoons or so of good quality extra virgin olive oil (like De Cecco)
- 2 or 3 large cloves of fresh garlic
- hot pepper, fresh or dried (optional)
- about 4 oz pancetta (omit if vegetarian)
- 2 or 3 medium to large, good quality potatoes
- about 3/4 cup (6 oz) tomato puree (fresh or good quality tomato puree in jars)
- about 3/4 cup (6 oz) water, or more
- 1 or 2 bay leaves
- Kosher or sea salt
- black pepper
Instructions
- Start by soaking the dried zucchini with very hot water (not from the tap-heat it up).
- Set aside for about half an hour or until the zucchini has softened.
- Meanwhile, slice the pancetta, and cut the potatoes into bite sized pieces and set aside.
- (If the potatoes will be cut more than a few minutes ahead of when you’ll be using them, keep them in a bowl covered in water, so they don’t turn brown; this applies to every recipe).
- Rinse the zucchini and drain well; set aside.
- In a medium sized pot over medium to medium-high heat, add the olive oil and fry off the garlic, bay leaves, pancetta and hot pepper, if using.
- Brown the garlic and pancetta, just a little, then add the zucchini.
- Next, add the tomatoes or puree and then the water (if you would like to make this without tomatoes, just add water at this point).
- It will look like this. Add salt, and bring it to a boil; then lower to a simmer.Add the potatoes, a little more salt, and stir well. Cover and simmer until the potatoes are cooked, stirring occasionally. If it is drying up too much and the potatoes aren’t cooked, add more water as needed.
- Remove from heat, taste to see if it needs more salt, and add black pepper. Serve hot.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
3Serving Size:
1 bowlAmount Per Serving: Calories: 382 Total Fat: 26g Saturated Fat: 8g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 16g Cholesterol: 27mg Sodium: 267mg Carbohydrates: 33g Fiber: 7g Sugar: 11g Protein: 10g
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[…] they would be put away for wintertime, when they could be re-hydrated and cooked for a delicious zucchini dish. Here’s the best part, it’s […]
[…] they would be put away for wintertime, when they could be re-hydrated and cooked for a delicious zucchini dish. Here’s the best part, it’s […]
Now thats new to me. Thanks for sharing such a valuable tip of preserving veg.
You’re more than welcome, Sherin! I just hope that some readers decide to try drying zucchini and realize what a great idea it is, especially when they taste the final product. Thanks for stopping by! CC
I have never heard of dried zucchini, what a wonderful way to preserve them. The stew sounds delicous, love the pancetta and other veggies and the fact that the zucchini doesn’t get mushy.
Yes, sadly, I think this recipe is being left behind, with hardly anyone continuing the tradition. It’s so sad, because everyone who grows zucchini usually has a glut of them during the summer, and this is the only way I know of, to make them last into winter. CC