Pumpkin and Mussels Fregola: A Flavorful Italian Seafood Pasta Dish

Fregola with Pumpkin and Mussels
Category: First Courses | Serves: 6

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Preparing the Mussels:
   Begin by cleaning the mussels. Rinse them under running water, scrubbing away any debris from the shells. Set the cleaned mussels aside while you prepare the pumpkin.

2. Preparing the Pumpkin:
   Peel the Delica pumpkin using a knife. Once peeled, cut it into small cubes, ready for cooking.

3. Sautéing the Garlic and Pumpkin:
   In a large pan, heat a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Add one garlic clove and sauté it until golden. Then, add the diced pumpkin and allow it to sauté until it softens and starts to caramelize slightly.

4. Adding the Mussels:
   Add the mussels to the pan with the pumpkin. Cover the pan with a lid and let the mussels steam open, releasing their juices. Once the shells are open, remove the mussels from the pan and set them aside, keeping the cooking liquid in the pan.

5. Cooking the Fregola:
   In a separate pan, bring 100g of water to a simmer. Add the fregola and cook it in the simmering water until it absorbs the liquid and softens, about 6-8 minutes. While the fregola is cooking, filter the mussel cooking liquid through a fine sieve to remove any grit.

6. Combining Ingredients:
   Once the fregola is cooked, add it to the pumpkin mixture. Pour in the filtered mussel broth and 300g of additional water. Let the fregola cook in the broth, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is absorbed, and the fregola is tender.

7. Finishing Touches:
   Once the fregola is fully cooked, remove the garlic clove from the pan. Season with salt, pepper, and fresh chopped parsley to taste. Stir in the mussels, keeping some aside for garnish.

8. Serving:
   Serve the fregola with pumpkin and mussels hot, garnished with the mussels you set aside earlier for a beautiful and flavorful presentation.

Enjoy this hearty and comforting dish, perfect for a special occasion or a cozy family meal!