How To Identify Squash—Different Squash Types You Didn’t Know About! Just know it is not Zucchini!
I bought a farmers box of fresh vegetables and fruit from a local farmer about a week ago. I had my first Kohlrabi ever and made a wonderful salad with it and an apple from the same box. It was delightful and I posted the recipe earlier. One of the other things in the box was a mysterious squash. I found out what it was online and it is very easy to cook, but I loved seeing all the other squash many I have never tried. Here they are:
Nature has showered us with a variety of fruits and vegetables. They are now labeled and placed in categories. They do tend to vary with the season or environment, the climate or the soil. Squash has the most varieties classified into the summer and winter types.
This veggie is available in multiple shapes and colors, which differ in taste.
The summer and winter forms do not actually mean the seasonal type but it is purely based on the perishability of this green. The ones with harder skin and seeds are more durable than the ones with thinner peel, so they have been termed as winter squash. Both the variations are found year round.. This article will share which can store longer than others.
You might have seen in the market but did not know that it belonged to the squash family.
1. Kabocha
This winter squash is known in New Zealand and Australia as Japanese pumpkin. It has a number of varieties such as Cutie, Emiguri, Ajihei, Miyako and Ebisu. Kabocha which has a dark green colored skin and has a shape similar to a pumpkin. The peel is hard and inside it is orange-yellow.
2. Acorn
In colour and texture, it is similar to kabocha, but its shape is elongated. Acorn squash is known by different names as Des Moines squash or pepper squash. The ridges are distinct and though it is a winter squash, it is similar to the summer squash.
3. Delicata
Delicata squash has a tender skin and probably the reason behind the name. It has a creamy skin with green striped lines along the ridges. Because of the delicate skin it is hard to store for a long time and exportation is not feasible. Also known as Bohemian squash, peanut squash and sweet potato squash, this used in cooking and resembles the summer squash, even though it is eaten as a winter one.
This vegetable is associated with pumpkin as it tastes like it and is even known as butternut pumpkin in New Zealand and Australia. The interior is orange and the outer cover looks rough yellow, darkens as it grows. It tastes sweet and one of the most best types is the Waltham Butternut.
5. Hubbard
Hubbard squash can be used as pie stuffing or in soups and has a wide range of vibrant rind colours like orange and gray, and within it is yellow. This winter squash can have a durability of around 6-months if stored well. It weighs between 8 to 20 pounds and owing to its huge quantity, it is sold in cut pieces.
6. Calabaza
The Calabaza squash can be known as the West Indian pumpkin and is cultivated in America and West Indies. Due to its hard skin, it is transported to different places as it can be stored for longer than the ones with thinner skin.It is available in the market in cut pieces, but once cut, like any other fruit it spoils within a few days.
7. Spaghetti
This squash splits into strands similar to spaghetti. This cylindrical shiny yellow squash weighs from 4 to 8 pounds and is used in pasta or savored by adding herbs and butter. It has been called vegetable spaghetti, noodle squash or vegetable marrow.
8. Turban
Glistening yellow inside and bright colored peel ranging from green to white to orange, this squash has a typical shape which helped it in acquiring this name. The big cap can be removed in order to make it into a pot to hold soup and the like. This is one of my personal favorite squashes as it is beautiful and practical.
9. Gold Nugget
Gold Nugget aka oriental pumpkin is a smaller version of pumpkin and it weighs from 1 to 3 pounds. This orangey squash can be cooked, cut into pieces or even prepared whole.
10. Carnival
The Carnival squash tastes like butternut squash and sweet potato and is eaten after removing the peel. The hard skin of this winter squash is deep green in color with light green and orange marks. It is used in soups or enjoyed simply by baking or steaming.
11. Ambercup
This looks like a little pumpkin with dark orange skin and flesh. It can be roasted by cutting into cubes and being a winter squash is storable for a long time. The flesh has a sweet taste and is not mushy.
12. Banana
The Banana squash belongs to the Cucurbita maxima species like hubbard and buttercup squash. Its peel colour varies from orange, pink and light blue with the inside a peculiar shade of orange. It has a long structure and can be used to make pie and even soup.
13. Sweet Dumpling
With a cream color skin and dark green ridges it looks like a pumpkin being pressed on the top giving it a distinct shape. The flesh greenish to orange in color, has slightly sweet taste and is soft. This squash is good for baking as it is small in size and can be cooked whole.
14. Eight Ball
A tiny form of zucchini squash and preferably eaten young. Matured they can be used as vessels or pots, by taking out the seeds, to hold dips or soup or most anything. I like the idea of using it as a salad bowl.
15. Gold Rush
With its elongated structure and velvety skin with a golden yellow color this summer squash has tender peel and flesh, with seeds are soft like that of zucchini. The flesh is white and the green stem looks great along with the shiny yellow body. I have always just bought this as yellow squash or summer squash. I like the Gold Rush name…
16. Fortune
This summer squash has a waxy light yellow skin with white flesh. Fortune squash has a slim body with a thinner neck and grows in such abundance it will take over your garden.
17. Cuarzo
Cuarzo is a summer squash with grayish green skin and looks like it could be zucchini’s twin. It grows in plenty and resists diseases, so it allows for a longer longer cultivation period.
18. Parador
Velvety yellow color with small ridges and tilted neck this summer squash grows fast are a treat to the eyes and taste. Try cooking just the flowers. They are wonderful deep fried.
19. Sunburst
The Sunburst squash or patty pan squash are small and look ornamental with their flowery structure. The sunburst patty pan comes in bright sunny color and with its buttery taste fits into any summer dish. Patty pan squash can be found in light green known as white squash.
20. Calabash
The unique shape suggests it could be called bottle gourd.This summer squash has light green skin and ivory white flesh and grows in a climber plant.comes in several shapes and can reach up to 3 feet in length.
