Sicilian Tenerumi Pasta Recipe
Tenerumi pasta is a traditional Sicilian dish made with the tender leaves of the cucuzza lungha along with the cucuzza squash; fresh tomatoes; and pasta. A simple, flavorful and healthy dish.
Servings 8 servings
Calories 220kcal
Ingredients
- 800 grams tenerumi 1 large bunch. Use only the tender leaves and buds, compost the rest. I had approximately 8 cups of tenerumi leaves.
- 500 grams cucuzza squash
- 450 grams tomatoes 3 large tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic
- 4 tbsp. olive oil divided
- 6 cups water
- 250 grams spaghetti broken into small pieces, or other small pasta of your choice.
- salt to taste
- grated Parmigiano or Pecorino cheese for serving
Instructions
- Thoroughly wash the tenerumi leaves to remove all traces of dirt. Cut the leaves into thin strips.
- Peel the cucuzza. Slice lengthwise into quarters. If the cucuzza is large, use a spoon to scrape out the spongy seeds in the center. Chop the cucuzza into cubes and set aside.
- Prepare the remaining ingredients: dice the tomatoes; break spaghetti into small pieces by hand.
- Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large sauce pan, add garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add chopped tomatoes, salt (to taste), and cook for 10 minutes until they break down.
- Stir in the chopped tenerumi leaves, a pinch of salt and cook until they begin to wilt. Add water (to cover) and bring to a boil.
- Add the cubed cucuzza, cover and let simmer for 20 minutes or until the cucuzza is tender. Taste and add more salt as needed.
- Uncover, add the spaghetti and let cook until the pasta is al dente, about 8-9 minutes. Adjust seasoning as needed. Drizzle with a little extra olive oil at the end of cooking.
- Serve hot or at room temperature with grated Pecorino or Parmigiano cheese at the table, if desired.
Notes
Substitutions and Variations
-There really is no real substitute for tenerumi in my opinion. However, if you want to attempt a similar recipe, try swiss chard or escarole instead of tenerumi.
- If you don't have access to cucuzza, try using zucchini instead.
-Large tomatoes may be replaced with cherry tomatoes.
Nutrition
Calories: 220kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 28mg | Potassium: 684mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2761IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 2mg
