A Rainbow of Squash
Wonders of the “New World”!
Talking about squash as a category of veggie is kind of like saying brassica. The squash family (genus cucurbita) is massive. In fact, there are so many squash it’s pretty difficult to talk about their nutritional value without going into specifics for each variety. What you should know though, is that squash are a wonder of the ‘New World” aka the western hemisphere and the English word squash comes from borrowing the Algonquin word askutasquash which literally means “a green thing eaten raw”.
One of the things we love about squash is that no two are the same. While each variety has general distinguishing characteristics, they grow as individuals with all the personality and idiosyncrasies that go with it. To make things even more confusing each variety has at least two or three other aliases it likes to use, so bear with us as we sort out for you what we call them and what you may know them as.
So rather than talk in broad strokes about squashes in general, let’s get down to what we see growing in the fields at Riverbend!
Acorn Squash
Arguably one of the most common squash varieties in our diet, we like to shake things up a bit by planting a variety of acorn called “celebration”. These babies light up our fields. We love their beautiful colours and wonderful flavour. Their flesh ranges in colour from buttery yellow to orange and has as mild flavour that shines in both sweet and savoury recipes.
Sometimes the celebration variety of acorn is called “sweet dumpling” or “carnival” but whatever name you give it, you can use these beauties anytime you want to try a recipe that calls for acorn or butternut squash. We like to bake it with just a little butter and brown sugar… perfection!
Try out these recipe suggestions and tips:
How to make stuffed & roasted acorn squash
Roasted Acorn Squash with Chile Vinaigrette
Sweet, spicy, 5-ingredient Acorn Squash
Hubbard
We grow both green and orange Hubbard and while we usually hear of them referred to as Hubbard, we occasionally also see them called Kuri Squash too. These squash are quirky. Asymmetrical with long necks and sometimes pointed bottoms, Hubbards are definitely the most visually confounding of our squash family. They’ve got beautiful yellow/orange flesh and a rich chestnutty flavour.
Try out these recipe suggestions and tips:
How to roast ANY winter squash
Grandma’s Sweet Hubbard Squash Custard Pie
Chipotle Chicken Hubbard Squash Soup
Hubbard Squash Oatmeal Muffins
Butternut
Probably the most well known of the Riverbend squash line up, butternut squash is as unremarkable on the outside as it is stunning on the inside. No one would guess that under that hourglass figure there is bright orangey yellow flesh that is super sweet. As Butternut is one of the most sought after of our squash line up, we have trouble keeping this one on the market table. It’s easily the first to go each week and since we don’t grow a ton of them, you’ll have to show up early to secure yours!
Try out these recipe suggestions and tips:
How to break down a Butternut squash
Gnocchi with mushrooms and butternut squash
Butternut squash and hazelnut lasagne
ABC Kitchen’s Butternut Squash on Toast
Buttercup
While similar in name to Butternut, you’ll not get these two confused in a line up! We grow both orange and green Butternut squash and have heard it called a multitude of names (kabocha, turban, Japanese pumpkin, etc). While a true Kabocha will differ every so slightly in looks from the buttercup, they can be interchanged in recipes. This Asian squash is revered as an aphrodisiac in some cultures, so keep that in mind.
Try out these recipe suggestions and tips:
Shrimp Curry with Yu Chou and Kabocha Squash
Heaven and Earth Tempura Cakes
Spaghetti
The Spaghetti squash is a staple of our household diet and we think you’ll love it too. While also unremarkable on the outside, inside you’ll find yellow flesh that, once cooked, forks into long “strings” (or as we like to say, noodles). Its mild taste will absorb the flavours it’s cooked with and so it makes an ideal pasta alternative.
Try these recipes tips and suggestions:
How to cook a spaghetti squash
Vegetarian Enchilada Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
Baked Spaghetti Squash with Garlic and Butter
10 Spaghetti Squash dishes you need to try right now
Delicata
Also known colloquially as the “sweet potato squash” this is as close as you’ll come to sweet potatoes in our climate. This squash has relatively thin skin and so takes criticism badly. Just kidding, but you should be gentle with it as its thin skin means it’ll bruise more easily. The cooked flesh is creamy and soft and has that earthy sweetness that is reminiscent of sweet potato tubers.
Try out these recipes and tips:
Roasted Squash with Lemon-Tahini Sauce
Roasted Delicata Squash with Onions
Delicata Squash with Rosemary, Sage and Cider Glaze
Delicata Squash and Quinoa Salad
NOTE: We also grow zucchini sumer squash and a large variety of pumpkins but to talk about them all in one post would just send this over the top!