Squash refers to all the species within the genus Cucurbita and the varieties that are eaten are commonly called pumpkin or winter squash. In Italy, they are harvested from September until the end of November and they can be stored for many months through the winter.
Their origin is obscure but the first trace was in Mexico where pumpkin seeds have been found dating back to 7000/6000 BCE. The Spanish conquerors brought the plant to Europe in the 1500s.
There are many different varieties of pumpkin and winter squash, varying in size, texture, and appearance as well as flavour. Some are:
● Butternut squash;
● Delica pumpkin;
● Flat Striped pumpkin;
● Yellow pumpkin;
● Hubbard squash;
● Mammoth Gold pumpkin;
● Mantua pumpkin;
● Marina di Chioggia pumpkin;
● Musquée de Provence pumpkin;
● Queensland Blue pumpkin;
● Quintale pumpkin;
● Spaghetti squash;
● Sicilian pumpkin;
● Tan Cheese pumpkin;
● Violin pumpkin;
● Hokkaido pumpkin;
● Turk’s turban squash.
Pumpkin is commonly used in the cuisine of many different cultures: pumpkin flesh is eaten cooked, while the seeds are eaten roasted and sometimes salted.
Pumpkin is incredibly versatile, lending itself to endless recipes: it is eaten baked, steamed, cooked in risotto or included in soups, used for pasta dishes, fried in batter, stuffed with meaty fillings and/or pilaff, made into pies such as the famous American Thanksgiving pumpkin pie. Pumpkin maybe be kneaded into flour tortilla dough for a more flavourful (and nutritious) pale orange flatbread/pancake.
A delicious squash favourite is sliced, and layered with tomato sauce and cheese, then baked in the oven until bubbly. Delica pumpkin is a favourite for its rich yet delicate flavour, and Mantua pumpkin is marvellous cooked, mashed, and used as filling for tortelli. In fact, most winter squashes are wonderful in pasta dishes; simply sliced, and cooked in garlic-olive oil and chili, then tossed with spaghetti or linguine, one can really appreciate the delicious seasonal quality of the pumpkin. Pumpkin and other squashes, such as Hubbard, are tasty steamed, sprinkled with soy sauce, and eaten as an accompaniment to a meal of Asian or Chinese dishes.
Pumpkin is a low-calorie food and like all orange vegetables, it is rich in carotenes, substances that the body uses for the production of vitamin A and which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
