Pasta with Pumpkin and Mussels Recipe

Italians celebrate Grandparents Day. Traditionally, they cook various seafood dishes. Seafood with pasta (truly Italian ingredient) and pumpkin is one of them. This somewhat unexpected combination creates a fabulous taste. It is so fresh, piquant, sweetish and rich. We’ve cooked this dish for our family party and everybody enjoyed it greatly. If you want to cook something nourishing and healthy for your family, try this recipe.

Ingredients for Pasta with Pumpkin and Mussels

  • 300 g shell pasta
  • 2-2.2 lb unshelled mussels
  • 300g pumpkin
  • 8-10 cherry tomatoes
  • 0,5 white onion
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1-2 parsley stalks
  • 3-4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon peppered olive oil
  • Salt
Ingredients for Pasta with Pumpkin and Mussels

Ingredients for Pasta with Pumpkin and Mussels

Recipe for Pasta with Pumpkin and Mussels

  1. If you have unshelled mussels, drop them in a pot, add water and put the saucepan over low heat.
  2. Stir occasionally.
  3. When all mussels are open, turn the heat off.
  4. Crack the shells apart and pull out meat.
  5. Don’t drain leftover water. Strain and pour in a cup for sauce.
  6. If you have frozen pre-cooked mussels, just take out their meat and strain package leftover water into a cup.
  7. Peel pumpkin and dice finely.
  8. Chop onion and garlic finely.
  9. Wash tomatoes and parsley and chop finely.
  10. Pour olive oil in a saucepan or a thick-bottomed pot.
  11. Sauté onion and garlic until golden for 4-5 minutes.
  12. Stir in parsley and tomatoes; cover and simmer for 5-6 minutes.
  13. In the meantime, boil water for pasta.
  14. When water starts boiling, drop pasta and cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  15. Add mussel water to the sauce and pumpkin. Cover and simmer for 3-4 minutes.
  16. Stir in mussels and simmer for additional 2-3 minutes. Make sure your pumpkin is not overcooked.
  17. Turn the heat off and add a tablespoonful of peppered olive oil.
  18. Drain pasta using a colander and put it into the saucepan.
  19. Mix everything well and let stand for a few minutes. Serve.
  20. Sprinkling shredded parsley or basil over the dish will add more flavor.
Pasta with Pumpkin and Mussels

Pasta with Pumpkin and Mussels