On March 19th, many Italian-Americans celebrate St. Joseph’s Day. St. Joseph is the patron saint of family life, hand-labor, and carpenters. It Italy, it is the feast of their Father’s Day. This holy day is celebrated rather privately in homes and neighborhoods across the United States. Although my family no longer celebrates St. Joseph's Day, I do keep to tradition and plant my cucuzza seeds on this day because that is when my Aunt Frances always planted hers.
A cucuzza is a long, green Italian squash. It is pronounced "ku-koo-za". The inside is a firm white flesh, similar to that of eggplant. The taste is a little sweeter and nuttier than other squash. It can be cooked like any other squash. My aunt used to grow these in her back yard when I was a child. She would slice them, dip them in an egg mixture, then in bread crumbs and fry them in olive oil. She would serve them along side her Sunday spaghetti dinner during the summer months. I use cucuzza in tomato sauce, breads, cakes, pies, and relishes.
The cucuzza grows like a vine and needs full sun and a trellis to support it's weight. The vine can grow up to 2 feet per day and the squash can grow up to 10 inches per day.
I've been selling my cucuzza seeds on Etsy and I still have several more packages left. I hope that people who have never had cucuzza will grow their own and give them a try.
A cucuzza is a long, green Italian squash. It is pronounced "ku-koo-za". The inside is a firm white flesh, similar to that of eggplant. The taste is a little sweeter and nuttier than other squash. It can be cooked like any other squash. My aunt used to grow these in her back yard when I was a child. She would slice them, dip them in an egg mixture, then in bread crumbs and fry them in olive oil. She would serve them along side her Sunday spaghetti dinner during the summer months. I use cucuzza in tomato sauce, breads, cakes, pies, and relishes.
The cucuzza grows like a vine and needs full sun and a trellis to support it's weight. The vine can grow up to 2 feet per day and the squash can grow up to 10 inches per day.
I've been selling my cucuzza seeds on Etsy and I still have several more packages left. I hope that people who have never had cucuzza will grow their own and give them a try.
