The Squash.

It can be quite difficult to get the cooking of squashes right, especially if you're not used to this product!

Here are some general tips for you to start with:

An easy way to remove the seeds is to use a grapefruit spoon, it will save you much time and effort!

Be careful when you cut the squash, it can be very hard. Use a sharp knife and make sure the squash is stable when you cut it.

For a zero-waste recipe, keep the seeds and roast them with olive oil in the oven for about 20 minutes at 200C, until crisp, season with salt and pepper (you can also add spices) and add them to a salad, a soup or use them as a snack! All squash seeds are edible and have good nutritional values.

Most of the squashes can be eaten various ways: roasted, stuffed, as a soup or a mash, in a stew or a curry, in a pasta dish and even over a pizza. Here are some tips on how to cook them according to their variety.

Jack Be Little

From France

They're very interesting and fun to grow variety. These colourful little pumpkins grow to just 8cm in diameter when fully grown! This means they are great for adding to meals but also to make amazing Halloween decorations! These pumpkins taste absolutely delicious when they are stuffed and baked, and being only 8cm across, they make ideal serving portions.

How to cook it?

Skin edible once cooked.

The small size of this product makes it really interesting for a single portion to stuff.

Preheat the oven to 200C. Cut the top (approx. one third of the pumpkin), remove seeds and fibres. Paint it with olive oil. Bake the base and top around 20 min. In the meantime, prepare and cook your stuffing. It can be quinoa or rice with vegetables or mushrooms, bacon and grated cheese. Use your creativity! Stuff the pumpkin and put it back into the oven for 10 more minutes.

You can also use it as a soup bowl or as a decoration!

Delica Squash

From Italy

Delica is a type of kabocha squash, favoured for its sweet, nutty flavor and smooth flesh. The squashes are one of the first varieties available of the season and are often sold in local Italian markets with a signature red wax on the stems to extend the storage life and prevent the squash from ripening too quickly.

How to cook it?

Skin edible once cooked.

The best way to enjoy the intense flavour of the Delica squash is to roast it with herbs and olive oil.

No need to peel it. Preheat the oven to 200C, cut the squash halves into 3/4cm-thick wedges. Remove the seeds, place on a baking tray, brush them with olive oil, bake for 20 minutes. In the meantime, mix some sage leaves with olive oil. Once the wedges have been cooking for 20 minutes, flip them and add the sage. Bake for another 10/15 minutes. And it’s ready to eat.

Of course, you can use other herbs such as thyme or oregano… Or roast it with parmesan cheese (add the cheese for the last 10/15 minutes of cooking).

This Delica squash recipe will perfectly accompany a roasted lamb or pork!

Acorn Squash

From United Kingdom

Quite oppositely, acorn squash brings about a very mild taste, almost bland, that can be easily combined with other flavors – both sweet and savory. It offers a slightly buttery and sweet taste, similar to the pumpkin but a bit more sugary.

How to cook it?

Skin edible once cooked.

Why not eating the Acorn squash over a pizza?
Preheat the oven to 200C. Thinly slice the squash, brush with a mix of olive oil, honey, dry thyme and salt and pepper. Bake for 15/20 minutes until tender.
Layer the squash slices over the pizza crust, sprinkle with red onion slices, gorgonzola or your favourite cheese, cook in the oven. Once cooked, top the pizza with rocket salad, a dash of olive oil and balsamic glaze.

Crown Prince

From United Kingdom or France

Underneath the surface, the flesh is bright orange, dense, waxy, and dry, encasing a central cavity filled with moderately sized, flat, cream-colored seeds. Crown Prince squashes hold their shape well when cooked and develop a tender, soft consistency with a honey-sweet, nutty flavor.

How to cook it?

Skin edible once cooked.

An easy recipe you would enjoy with the Crown Prince Squash is a warm comforting curry.

Peel and remove the seeds of the squash and cut it into cubes. In a saucepan, cook a chopped onion in oil until transparent, add a crushed garlic glove and some chillies (to taste) and cook for a further 2 minutes, add the curry paste or powder, stir well. Add the squash cubes and pour with coconut milk. Cover and cook gently for 20/25 minutes. When the squash is cooked, taste the cream and adjust seasoning, as necessary. Serve with rice or flatbreads.

Spaghetti Squash

From United Kingdom

Spaghetti squash has a very mild, almost neutral flavor and slightly sweet. It's not nearly as strong in flavor as other winter squash, like acorn or butternut squash, so what I notice more about it is the texture.

How to cook it?

Avoid eating the skin.

This variety of squash has a flesh that pulls into spaghetti-like strands when cooked.
Preheat the oven to 200C, slice the squash in half lengthways and remove the seeds. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake it (cut side down) for half an hour. Once cooked, scrape out the flesh with a fork. Pour into a sieve to remove the excess of water. Let cool enough to handle and shred in insides into strands with a fork.
Use them as a low-carb option to replace your favourite spaghetti recipe. For example, with a Bolognese or a mushroom cream, or even cook it as a Pad Thai. Let your creativity guide you!

Where to find squash?

we've included squashes in few of our boxes for you to cook alongside other amazing veg

In these boxes right here :)

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