GRILLED WINTER SQUASH AND PANCETTA SALAD or INSALATA CON ZUCCA GRIGLIATA E PANCETTA

I have no idea what to call this, winter squash? Pumpkin? Whatever to me it’s a zucca and even a zucca di Mantova and I find it beautiful. I have to say that I have learnt to like it; before moving here my only experience of it was my aunt’s pumpkin pie on Christmas Day. She was married to an American and they mixed Swedish and American traditions and on Christmas Day it was the American traditions that ruled. I hope my cousins won’t be offended in case they are reading this, I don’t think they do though, but I never liked pumpkin pie, I’m sure my aunt’s was a good one, it’s just me not liking that type of sweetness. But now I have found ways to use pumpkin/winter squash in ways I like, i.e. contrasted with something salty. And then this little grilled winter squash (I’ll go for that because I think this is what it is) and pancetta salad is perfect, salty pancetta and sweet winter squash on a bed of salad leaves is not a bad thing to eat!

GRILLED WINTER SQUASH AND PANCETTA SALAD or INSALATA CON ZUCCA GRIGLIATA E PANCETTA

Winter squash
Pancetta in thin slices or bacon of some type. I used just normal one but I think it could be good with smoked pancetta too
Salad leaves
Balsamic vinegar
Extra virgin olive oil

- Slice the winter squash thinly, the best thing is to use a mandolin to do it.
- Fry the pancetta in a grill pan and put it on some kitchen towel paper to drip off when ready.
- Now you grill the winter squash slices using the fat of the pancetta.
- Make a bed of salad leaves, then put the pancetta and grilled squash on top of it and drizzle a little balsamic vinegar and olive oil over.
- Enjoy!

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