Pasta with Pumpkin, Potatoes, and Mussels

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Pasta with Pumpkin, Potatoes, and Mussels
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it de fr es br
  • Lactose Free
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Prep time: 15 min
  • Cook time: 25 min
  • Serving: 4

PRESENTATION

Looking for something cozy? This pasta with pumpkin, potatoes, and mussels from Campania is just what you need, especially when the weather turns chilly. The Neapolitans, they really know how to mix it up, and this dish—seriously—doesn't disappoint. It takes the classic pasta with potatoes and adds a twist with sweet pumpkin and fresh mussels. Inspired by traditional pasta e patate alla napoletana, the seafood brings a cool balance of sweet and salty.

Plus, using whole wheat mixed pasta adds a rustic vibe. And as it cooks, the potatoes and pumpkin break down, making the sauce creamy and smooth. Not too heavy though. Perfect for family dinners or a cozy night in when you want something special. In Campania, everyone has their own twist—some go heavy on the golden pumpkin for extra sweetness, while others nail the tender potato texture.

And the mussels? They add a moist, briny kick that totally sets it apart from typical pasta with mussels. What really makes this dish pop is the earthy flavors from the land mingling with seafood from the coast. It’s not your everyday seafood pasta. The pumpkin and potatoes make it so so rich, giving you something that sticks to your ribs and tastes like fall.

Whether you're into easy pasta recipes or want a fresh take on mussel pasta, this is a really really comforting choice that shows how inventive Neapolitan food can be. Pair it with crusty bread to mop up that pumpkin pasta sauce—seriously good—and you’ve got a meal that makes cold nights way way better. It’s all about the simple, hearty and kinda unexpected flavors that folks from this region know how to pull off effortlessly. And here's the thing: it's pretty much perfect for any cozy evening.

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INGREDIENTS
Whole grain mixed pasta 0.7 lb (320 g)
Mussels 2.2 lbs (1 kg) - to clean
Delica pumpkin 0.66 lb (300 g) - (to clean)
Potatoes 0.75 lb (300 g)
Shallot 1
Garlic 1 clove
White wine 2.1 oz (60 g)
Fresh chili pepper 1
Parsley 1 bunch
Extra virgin olive oil 1 ¼ tbsp (20 g)
Fine salt to taste
Preparation

How to prepare Pasta with Pumpkin, Potatoes, and Mussels

To prepare pasta with pumpkin, potatoes, and mussels, start with How to Clean and Open Mussels: wash the mussels under a stream of cold running water 1, then vigorously scrub the shells with a stiff brush or steel wool to remove all encrustations. Remove the byssus, or the filament that protrudes from the side of the shell, by pulling it decisively. Rinse once more thoroughly and discard any mussels that are broken or already open. In a pan, brown the garlic 2, chili pepper, and parsley stems 3.

Add the mussels 4, deglaze with white wine 5, and let the alcohol evaporate, then cover with a lid 6. Cook for about 5 minutes on high heat so they open up.

Once opened 7, drain the mussels 8 and reserve their cooking water 9.

Shell the mussels and set them aside 10. Proceed with the other ingredients: peel and chop the shallot 11. Peel the potatoes and cut them into 0.4-inch (1 cm) cubes 12.

Clean the pumpkin and cut it into 0.4-inch (1 cm) cubes 13. Heat the oil in a pan, add the shallot 14 and let it simmer for a few minutes. When it is soft and transparent, add the potatoes 15.

Add the pumpkin 16 and stir 17, then pour in the mussel cooking liquid 18.

Cook for 10 minutes over medium heat 19, then add salt 20. Cook the mixed whole grain pasta in slightly salted boiling water 21.

Drain the pasta halfway through cooking 22 and add it to the pan with the seasoning, then finish cooking. Finally, add the mussels 23 and parsley 34.

Add pepper 25 and mix with the extra virgin olive oil, then give a final stir 26. Serve your pasta with pumpkin, potatoes, and mussels immediately 27!

Storage

We recommend consuming the pasta with pumpkin, potatoes, and mussels immediately.

Advice

The water released by the mussels during cooking is already salty, so it's important to always taste and adjust the saltiness accordingly, both during the pasta cooking and in the preparation of the potato and pumpkin seasoning.

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.
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