RECIPE

Braised Summer Squash

• Recipe by Gianfranco Becchina

Zucchini are delicious here, but Sicilians use the pale green summer squash called cucuzze, which have a texture somewhere between cucumbers' and zucchini's.

• Healthy
• Make-Ahead

Ingredients

1. 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2. 1 1/2 pounds zucchini, sliced 3/4 inch thick
3. 1/2 pound Yukon Gold potatoes—peeled, halved and sliced 1/3 inch thick
4. 1 medium tomato—peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped
5. 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
6. 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped celery leaves
7. 1/2 tablespoon finely chopped basil
8. 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
9. Sea salt
10. 1/4 cup boiling water
11. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan or deep skillet. Add the zucchini, potatoes, tomato, onion, celery leaves, basil and crushed red pepper and season with salt. Cover and cook over moderate heat until the vegetables are barely tender, about 25 minutes. Add the boiling water, cover and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 12 minutes longer. Season with salt and serve hot or at room temperature with Parmesan cheese.

Make Ahead

The braised vegetables can be refrigerated overnight.