Italian Cucuzza Stew - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb lean ground beef
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large red onion, sliced
2 -3 celery ribs, chopped
1 1/2 cups carrots, sliced
4 -5 garlic cloves, crushed and chopped
1 cucuzza, peeled and cubed
1 (28 ounce) can whole tomatoes
1 fresh bay leaf
1 teaspoon dried thyme
6 cups water
salt & fresh ground pepper

Preparation

Brown the ground beef in a skillet, drain and set aside.
In a large dutch oven, add the olive oil and saute the onion, celery, carrot, and garlic for about 4-5 minutes, or until the onions are translucent.
Add the ground beef to the pot along with the can of whole tomatoes, add the cucuzza, and the rest of the ingredients. Bring to a boil and simmer, uncovered for around 45 minutes or until the squash is cooked.