Fregola with Pumpkin and Mussels

Fregola with pumpkin and mussels is a delicious dish that combines the flavors of the sea with those of the land, typical of a culinary imagination that blends elements of Sardinian cuisine with touches of creativity. Here is a recipe based on the main ingredients you’ve mentioned:

Ingredients

• 320 g of Sardinian fregola (a particular type of pasta)
• 400 g of cleaned mussels
• 300 g of cleaned and cubed pumpkin
• 1 clove of garlic
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 1 glass of white wine
• Fish or vegetable broth as needed
• Chopped parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Start by cleaning the mussels well, removing the beard and scraping the shells, then rinse them several times in cold water.
2. In a large pan, sauté the garlic with extra virgin olive oil until golden, then add the mussels and cover. Cook until they all open, then deglaze with white wine and let the alcohol evaporate.
3. Remove the mussels with a slotted spoon, shell most of them leaving some whole for the final presentation. Filter the cooking liquid through a sieve to remove any sand residues and set aside.
4. In another pot, cook the pumpkin with a drizzle of oil over medium heat until it is soft, but not disintegrating.
5. Add the fregola to the pan with the pumpkin, flavor it for a few minutes, then pour the mussel liquid over it and add the broth, a little at a time, continuing to cook like for a risotto.
6. Once the fregola is al dente and most of the broth has been absorbed, add the shelled mussels and a bit of chopped parsley. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
7. Serve hot, decorating the dishes with the remaining shell-on mussels and an additional sprinkle of fresh parsley.

Curiosity

Fregola is a typical Sardinian pasta that is toasted in the oven to assume a characteristic flavor and texture. The combination with seafood is very common on the island, representing the meeting between the products of the sea and those of the Sardinian hinterland.

You can add a personal touch by adjusting the amount of mussels or pumpkin to your taste, and if you like, it might be interesting to add a hint of chili pepper to give the dish a bit of spiciness. Enjoy your meal!