Winter Squash refers to a family of vegetables from the genus Cucurbita that are grown in the summer, harvested in the fall, and are sturdy enough to last the whole winter in a chilly cellar. Pumpkins are the celebrity winter squash, but there are many other varieties you can explore and experiment with. Check them out at the supermarket, or farmer's markets that are still open.
• Acorn Squash - relatively small (up to 2 pounds), with a mild and nutty flavor. The thin skin is edible when cooked.
• Banana Squash - can grow up tp 3 feet and weigh 40 pounds!
• Buttercup Squash - known for its sweet, creamy flavor.
• Butternut Squash - easy to work with, as it has very few seeds compared to the others It's considered the sweetest of the squashes.
• Delicata Squash - also known as sweet potato squash.
• Hubbard Squash - a big squash that can be dark green or even blue in color.
• Kabocha Squash - dark green on the outside, bright orange on the inside.
• Pumpkin - the ones used for eating are smaller than those used for Halloween.
• Spaghetti Squash - a favorite with the low-carb community. Note: it only looks like pasta, the flavor is quite bland, so use with ingredients that have a strong personality.
• Sweet Dumpling Squash - a small, single serve, yellow variety.
• Turban Squash - big, dull, with a bumpy exterior.
No matter which varietal you choose, winter squash is highly versatile and can be used in recipes for soup, stews, pasta dishes, side dishes, and more. The flavors of the various winter squashes is mild to sweet, which means you can use them to cook savory, spicy, or sweet dishes.
Nutritionally, any varietal of winter squash is low in calories. A 3-ounce serving of squash has only 30 calories! Winter squash is rich in vitamin A, C, B6, and potassium.
For a quick treat, halve a butternut squash and remove the seeds. Drizzle some olive oil on the flesh and bake on high heat for 25-30 minutes.
What is your favorite winter squash recipe?