Photo: ricette.giallozafferano.it

Presentation

A first course based on spaghetti, pumpkin, black cabbage, speck, garlic, thyme, salt, extra virgin olive oil and pepper.

Ingredients
Serves 4

• 320 g (11.3 oz) spaghetti
• 500 g (17.6 oz / about 3½ cups, diced) Delica pumpkin
  (or kabocha or butternut squash)
• 150 g (5.3 oz / about 3 cups, chopped) Tuscan kale (cavolo nero)
• 150 g (5.3 oz) speck (smoked cured ham), sliced
• 1 garlic clove
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• Fine salt, to taste
• Extra-virgin olive oil, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste

Method

Clean the pumpkin by removing the seeds and skin.

Cut it first into slices and then into coarse pieces, a couple of cm large

Pour a drizzle of oil into the pan and add the garlic and thyme sprigs.

Add the pumpkin and brown it over high heat for a few minutes.

Add salt, pepper and 2 ladles of water.

Lower the heat and cover with a lid.

Continue cooking for about 15 minutes, until the pumpkin is soft.

Remove the garlic and thyme.

Transfer the pumpkin to a tall, narrow container

Add 100 g of hot water.

Blend until smooth and set aside.

Cut the speck into slices of about 5mm and then into 5mm strips.

Brown it over high heat in the same pan in which you cooked the pumpkin, adding a drizzle of oil if necessary.

Brown then turn off the heat.

Blanch the kale leaves for 3 minutes in boiling salted water

Drain it

Do not throw away the water that will be used for cooking the pasta.

While the water comes back to a boil, cut the kale into pieces.

Throw in the pasta and cook it al dente.

Transfer the speck to a small bowl.

As soon as the pasta is ready, drain it and transfer it directly to the pan where you cooked the speck.

Add a couple of ladles of cooking water and add the pumpkin cream. Mix well.

Add the black cabbage and a drizzle of oil.

Finish cooking the pasta by adding more water if necessary.

When it is ready, serve finishing with the crispy speck and pepper if necessary

Allergens

Garlic: very rare cases of garlic reactivity reported

Cabbage: possible reaction in case of allergy to birch or spices

Extra virgin olive oil: unusual allergy; intolerance not described

Pepper: possible cross-reactivity in case of intolerance to spices

Spaghetti: Pasta: contains gluten from cereals included in EU Regulation 1169/2011

Thyme: possible reactivity in case of sensitivity to spices

Pumpkin: possible cross-reaction in case of allergy to Artemisia and Composite

Notes

To be prepared and handled under strict hygienic conditions.

The ingredients of the dish bring the following benefits:

Garlic: has immune-stimulating properties, promotes liver function and the elimination of waste metabolites. It also has hypocholesterolemic, lipid-lowering, antiplatelet, hypotensive and hypoglycemic properties that promote cardiac function.

Cabbage: rich in vitamins A and K that help the liver in purification activities and powerful natural anti-inflammatory, able to prevent and alleviate inflammatory and heart diseases. Also suitable for nephropathics. Useful for the functioning of the liver for the supply of vitamins, mineral salts and antioxidants

Extra virgin olive oil: source of Vitamin E that protects the immune system from harmful fatty acids

Pepper: contains piperine, a powerful antioxidant;  It improves insulin sensitivity by reducing cholesterol levels and activating metabolism. Recommended for people with problems

Spaghetti: if produced with wholemeal flour, which provides zinc, an element favorable to the proper functioning of the immune system; also suitable for nephropathic patients:

Speck: provides high levels of proteins, B vitamins, mineral salts and unsaturated fats that contribute to muscle function, metabolism, and the nervous system

Thymus: has a favorable action on liver function (cholagogue or choleretic) and diuretic due to the action of chlorogenic and caffeic acids

Pumpkin: rich in carotenoids that promote the functionality of the immune system and mineral salts, vitamins and antioxidants that act to protect the cardiovascular system; also suitable for nephropathic patients. Useful for the functioning of the liver for the supply of vitamins, mineral salts and antioxidants

Safety / Intended use

Product also intended for subjects suffering from:

• Anorexia-weight loss
• Mucositis (inflammation and lesions of the oral cavity)