Spicy Vegan Italian Cucuzza Squash Bake

Name: Spicy Vegan Italian Cucuzza Squash Casserole Bake
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 4 cups cucuzza squash ((peeled and cubed)); 1 cup organic onions ((diced)); 3 cloves organic garlic ((freshly crushed)); 1 tablespoon 100% pure avocado oil; 1/2 organic jalapeno ((diced)); 1/8 teaspoon organic red pepper flakes; 4 links "Field Roast" Vegan Italian Sausage; 1 cup Vegan Mozzarella Shredded Cheese; 1 cup organic tomatoes ((diced)); 1 cup Vegan Mozzarella Shredded Cheese

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My healthy plant-based Spicy Vegan Italian Cucuzza Squash Bake is an easy, savory recipe that's ready in under 30 minutes and is perfect for a Meatless Monday meal! It's a casserole made with fresh garden vegetables and is a comfort meal everyone will love!

Overhead image of a casserole dish of Spicy Vegan Italian Cucuzza Squash Casserole Bake on a white wooden surface

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Why You'll Love My Cucuzza Squash Casserole!
Ingredients
How To Make This Cucuzza Squash Recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
Karielyn's Expert Tips
More Healthy Vegan Squash Recipes

Why You'll Love My Cucuzza Squash Casserole!

My top 3 favorite reasons:

Use "Cucuzza" Squash, Yellow Squash, or Zucchini: if you don't have or can't find Italian "cucuzza" squash, you can still make this delicious recipe with yellow squash or zucchini!
Can Be Ready to Serve in Under 30 minutes: after sauteing the veggies, it's ready to bake in the oven for about 15-20 minutes then ready to serve!
Options to Make a Traditional Version with Non-Vegan Ingredients: if you are making this meal for a non-vegan, you can make a traditional version with real Italian sausage and real cheese!

Karielyn

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My Spicy Italian Cucuzza Squash Bake is the perfect way to use up fresh summer cucuzza squash. It transforms the long, mild Italian gourd into a hearty, flavorful, veggie-forward dish and I'll show you how to cook cucuzza squash and how easy and versatile it is! It's perfect for gardeners, CSA boxes, and anyone wanting a lighter Italian comfort dish.

You can feel good about making my healthy recipe because it's vegan, dairy-free, soy-free, tofu-free, and nut-free.

"Feel good about what you eat..."

- Karielyn Tillman

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients I used to make this recipe. Try to use organic if possible.

Key Ingredients

Italian "Cucuzza" Squash (or yellow squash or zucchini)
Onions
Garlic
Tomatoes
Jalapeno
Red Pepper Flakes
100% Pure Avocado Oil
"Field Roast" Vegan Italian Sausage (not real food; not gluten-free)
Vegan Mozzarella Shredded Cheese (not real food)

That's it! My Spicy Italian Cucuzza Squash Bake is super easy to make!

real food transparency

This is one of the rare recipes on my website that is made with ingredients that are not "real food". For example, "Field Roast" Vegan Italian Sausage and Vegan Mozzarella Shredded Cheese are not real food ingredients.

If you prefer to use 100% real food ingredients and skip the vegan sausage and vegan cheese, try out my other cucuzza recipe, Italian Cucuzza Squash Stew, that is made with 100% real food ingredients.

How To Make This Cucuzza Squash Recipe

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here's how to make this cucuzza recipe and I'll show you how easy it is with step-by-step instructions below.

Before beginning, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and set aside an 8 x 8 baking dish.

Prep the veggies + sausage

Cucuzza - Because cucuzza squash is usually extra-large in size, you may not need the entire piece. Start by cutting it in half, peeling the skin off, and cutting into small, uniform cubes.
Onions, Tomatoes + Jalapeno - Dice each of these into small pieces.
Sausage - Cut these into thin slices. You can use 2-4 sausage links, but I always use 4.

Step 1: Sauté the veggies. Add all the ingredients for the casserole (cucuzza, onions, garlic, jalapeno, red pepper flakes, avocado oil) to a non-toxic skillet and sauté them on low-medium heat for approximately 5-10 minutes, or until they are soft. Remove from heat and transfer to the prepared baking dish.

Step 2: Add the add-ins. Add the add-ins (vegan sausage, tomatoes and shredded vegan mozzarella cheese) and stir until everything is well combined.

Step 3: Add the topping. Sprinkle the shredded vegan mozzarella topping evenly over the top of the casserole.

Step 4: Bake the casserole. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted and golden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is "Cucuzza" (aka "Googootz")?

It's a variety of squash that grows on a long vine, typically in backyard gardens - which is where I got mine. They grow very large (sometimes over 3 feet in length!) in a long vertical shape, and you can usually make more than one dish with a single squash because of their size.

Cucuzza squash is traditionally used in Italian dishes like this Spicy Italian Cucuzza Squash Bake recipe which is made with fresh vegetables + herbs such as Cucuzza, onions, tomatoes, jalapeno, and garlic.

What Other Recipes Can I Make with Cucuzza Squash?

Because Cucuzza squash grows in abundance, it can be challenging to find creative ways to use it.

Another quick and easy recipe my dad shared with me is this Italian Cucuzza Squash Stew, which is also super easy to make.

It's made with 100% real food ingredients and does not contain vegan sausage and vegan cheese like this Spicy Italian Cucuzza Squash Bake recipe.

It can be served as a main dish, or with pasta, white rice, or even spaghetti squash.

Can I Make This if I'm Not Vegan?

Yes! If you are new to cucuzza, it's a classic Italian recipe that traditionally uses Italian sausage and real dairy cheese.

I got this recipe from my Italian dad, who makes the traditional version with Italian sausage and real dairy cheese.

However, I adapted his recipe to this vegan version so my family could enjoy it.

If you don't need the recipe to be vegan, make these substitutions for a more traditional Cucuzza dish:

1. Substitute the vegan sausage with --> Italian sausage

2. Substitute the vegan cheese with --> real dairy mozzarella shredded cheese

If you prefer to use 100% real food ingredients and skip the vegan sausage and vegan cheese, try out my other cucuzza recipe, Italian Cucuzza Squash Stew, that is made with 100% real food ingredients.

In addition, if you didn't need the recipe to be gluten-free, you could sprinkle some breadcrumbs over the top before baking.

Is Spicy Italian Cucuzza Squash Bake Gluten-Free?

No, the recipe as written is not gluten-free, due to the "Field Roast Vegan Italian Sausage" I used. It's a plant-based sausage but it does contain wheat gluten and wheat protein isolate.

If you need the recipe to be 100% gluten-free, you can try these options:

1. Use a gluten-free vegan sausage
2. Omit the "Field Roast Vegan Italian Sausage"
3. Use real Italian sausage (not a vegan option)

A red casserole dish filled with Spicy Vegan Italian Cucuzza Squash Casserole Bake on a white weathered wooden surface

try this reader favorite !

Italian Cucuzza Squash Stew

My Italian Cucuzza Squash Stew is another healthy + delicious recipe made with clean, real food ingredients!

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Karielyn's Expert Tips

Here are my best tips to help you make the Best Cucuzza Bake perfectly every time. These small adjustments can make a big difference in the flavor and texture.

Expert Cooking Tips

Peel the cucuzza: the skin can be tough on larger squash.
Salt + drain if the cucuzza is watery: this will help prevent a soggy meal.
Use a spicy marinara: a perfect shortcut that gives a deeper flavor without extra ingredients as a substitution for fresh tomatoes + seasonings.
Slice the cucuzza evenly: this will help the squash cook uniformly.
Add optional protein: add vegan or Italian sausage, lentils or even chickpeas to make a full meal.

Ingredient Substitutions

Cucuzza. I've actually never seen Cucuzza available in the grocery stores and get mine from my dad's home garden. But don't worry if you can't find fresh Cucuzza - it can be substituted with zucchini or yellow squash.

Vegan Sausage: If you don't need the recipe to be vegan, this can be substituted with Italian sausage. If you need the recipe to be 100% gluten-free, make sure to use a gluten-free vegan sausage.

Vegan Shredded Cheese: If you don't need the recipe to be vegan, this can be substituted with real dairy mozzarella shredded cheese.

Jalapeno + Red Pepper Flakes. When I want my Cucuzza dish to be spicy, I add a jalapeno and red pepper flakes. If you don't like spicy food or will be serving this to children, you can reduce the amounts or omit.

Avocado Oil: This can be substituted with organic extra-virgin olive oil in the same amount.

Onions: I used "white" onions in this recipe, but you can use your favorite variety with the exception of a sweet onion since this is a savory recipe.

Tomatoes: If you don't have fresh tomatoes on hand or want to save a little time, you can use (1) cup of strained organic fire-roasted diced tomatoes (14.5-ounce BPA-free can) or (1) cup organic marinara sauce as a substitute.

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