What is calabacitas?

Answer 1

Calbacitas, or "little squash," is a New Mexican dish containing mainly squash, corn and peppers as a base. Several different versions exist depending on the region. The dish can be found in select restaurants in New Mexico, mainly those in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Here is a recipe that came down from the Korte family line in Mora County:

1 Mexican green squash (or a zucchini) cut into 1cmx1cmx1cm cubes

1 Yellow Squash, cut into 1cmx1cmx1cm cubes

1 small onion, chopped

1/4 tsp chopped garlic

1 bell pepper

1 roasted Green Chile (or 4 roasted jalapenos) peeled and cored

3 cups corn

1 Tbsp of Butter (or olive oil)

Salt and pepper to taste

Heat the butter in a sauce pan until melted. Add onions and garlic, and sautee until transparent. Add peppers and green Chile, and sautee until green peppers are a vibrant green. Add squash and corn. Cook on medium-low heat until squash is tender. Add salt and pepper. These are great served in a warm tortilla with colby-jack cheese or as a filling for many other New Mexican dishes. For those who are not fond of spicy food, eliminating the Chile or hot peppers will not take away from the flavor of the dish.