So I am preparing another workshop on Roman cooking, and I’m trying to include more of the vegetable dishes.
But I have a translation problem.
Book III (The Gardener): Section IV Cucurbitas
See – that is the genus name for squash (summer & winter). But I’m pretty sure that squash was native to the western hemisphere.
So what would the Romans have been talking about?
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Okay, so I was ashamed to post this without a proper googling, first.
This page explains that what I’m really looking for is called a calabash, and I think I am reading it correctly that the easiest substitution would be a zucchini, right?
ETA: Here is a picture of the calabash split open. I am dubious.
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Okay, so when the calabash is less mature and in Italy, it is known as a cucuzza. Here is a good guide on picking and cooking one. Actually, this vegetable (straight, not bulgy, about 1 foot long) is frequently available at my produce truck. SCORE!
Here agrees that the calabash and the cacuzza are the same gourd.
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ETA: 9/9/08 : Looks like someone has already done this research