Originally Posted by
ILuvParis
My understanding is that calabacitas is a medley of sauteed vegetables, including, primarily zucchini and/or other squashes, with some other vegetables. I normally wouldn't question you, but I just was offered it as a choice of a side ("calabacitas or refried beans") at a Mexican restaurant a few days ago and I asked what it was.
We are both correct.
Mexican zucchini, or calabacita
, is a type of summer squash known for its sweeter flavor, firmer flesh, and lighter, often speckled, skin
. It differs from the darker, more widely available Italian zucchini, which tends to have a more watery texture. Calabacita is a core ingredient in a traditional Mexican dish of the same name, which is often prepared with corn, chiles, onion, and tomatoes.