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About Butternut Squash
Butternut squash is a relatively recent addition to the UK, being originally from South America. There is evidence of
Mexicans eating it as long ago as 5000 BC!
It's a member of the gourd family, like the courgette and the pumpkin, and is in season from about July / August to November
/ December.
Young, small squashes can be eaten whole, but it's more common to wait till they've matured and weigh over a pound, before
eating them.
It is a rich source of antioxidants, due to its orange colour, and is a delicious, sweet autumn vegetable, which makes
up for the disappearance of summer salads.
It contains high levels of vitamin C and minerals.
Many people are put off by the fact you have to peel the skin and de-seed them before cooking, but this only takes a few
minutes. Just make sure you've got a good potato peeler.
Butternut squash (and other members of the gourd family) are easy to grow at home, but they take a lot of space, with
a single plant crawling for metres, if not kept in check.
| Below : The Butternut Squash |
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Acorn Squash
The Acorn Squash is dark-green skinned, ribbed and heart shaped. The flesh is firm and lemon yellow to light orange in
colour and is best eaten when mature to ensure the sweetest taste. Acorns are ideal for stuffing with spicy rice or cous-cous
mixes.
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| Above: The Green Acorn Below: The Yellow Acorn |
Gems
Gems are small, round, dark green skinned Squash with a pale coloured flesh. Ideal prepared with butter and seasoning
to produce a fuller flavoured savoury dish. Try with parmesan and olive oil for a tasty light meal.
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| The Gem Squash |
Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti Squash are pale yellow cylindrical squash. The firm pale white flesh sheds away into long strands during cooking,
which resemble spaghetti strands. The flesh is slightly crispier than spaghetti and can be appreciated cold with salad or
hot with seasoning and butter.
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| The Spaghetti Squash |
Onion Squash
Onion Squash, so called for their shape and have a size and appearance not too dissimilar to Buttercup. They are best
roasted and seasoned to tease out their earthy and nutty flavour.
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| The Onion Squash |
Crown Prince
Crown Prince is steel blue in colour with bright oragne flesh. Pumpkin shape. Will store till the following year after
harvest.
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| Crown Prince Squash |
Turks Turban
Unusual cottage loaf shaped fruit with orange and green stripes, pale lemon flesh. Trailing habit.
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| The Turks Turban Squash |
Delicata squash
A nice mild tasting and delicious squash. The following recipes will give you an idea of how to use it. You can substitute
other winter squash in these recipes if you wish. Delicata will store at room temperature for about 4 weeks.
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| The Delecata Squash |
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