Choice and storage

Kabocha squash, being a winter or arduous squash sort, is grown within the heat season and may be saved for 3-4 months (via the winter).

Kabocha squash is offered from October to January within the farmer’s markets. Select average-sized fruits that includes dry and intact stems. Keep away from these with blemished/tender/rotted stems, broken, cuts/punctured, and so forth.

At dwelling, Kabocha retains for two to 4 months or extra if saved in a cool, dry, and darkish place.

Minimize sections, nevertheless, ought to be used within the cooking early. If you happen to select to maintain it for prolonged use (as much as 1-2 days solely), then place it inside a plastic wrap within the fridge set at excessive relative humidity.

Preparation and serving strategies

Kabocha squash is a well-liked winter vegetable within the U.S., Japan, and Canada. It may be utilized in any recipe calling for butternut squash or pumpkin.

Kabocha are recognized for his or her dry-textured flesh, which holds their form in entire baked, stuffed, stews and curries. It’s best fitted to baking, roasting, steaming, stuffing, boiling, and sautéing.

Its rind is hard, and though edible, some cooks want to peel it earlier than consumption.

It will also be sliced into rings or cubes and utilized in an countless array of recipes equivalent to soups, salads, stews, gratins, sandwiches, and risotto.

Suffed Kabocha. Stuffing consists of bread, bacon, sausage, onion, celery, and herbs. Courtesy: Tim Evanson.

Listed here are some serving suggestions:

• Kabocha is a well-liked vegetable in Japan, utilized in soups, sushi, and tempura dishes.

• Uncooked kabocha is used grated right into a winter salad, which provides a candy crunch and burst of orange shade.

• Minimize Kabocha in halves, scoop off seeds, and stuff with bread, grains, bacon, meat, cheese, mushrooms, and leafy greens and herbs, and bake within the oven.

• Take pleasure in kabocha squash gratin with complementing greens, or sausage.

• Mashed/pureed Kabocha is a wholesome various to mashed potato.

• Baked and pureed or mashed kabocha flesh can be utilized as a filling for empanadas, enchiladas, and ravioli, or utilized in desserts, pies, puddings, and bread.

• Kabocha squash makes a scrumptious creamy soup.

• Kabocha squash kernels may be eaten as a snack. Merely toast the seeds within the oven and luxuriate in!

Security profile

Allergic reactions to kabocha squash are uncommon. Pregnant ladies and infants can safely take pleasure in it. (Medical disclaimer).

You may additionally prefer to learn ≻≻-

≻≻- Spaghetti squash diet details.

≻≻- Acorn squash diet details.

≻≻- Delicata squash diet details.

≻≻-Pattypan squash diet details.

≻≻-Again to Greens from Kabocha Squash diet. Go to right here for a formidable checklist of greens with full illustrations of their diet details and
well being advantages.

≻≻-Again to House web page.

Additional studying:

1. USDA Nationwide Nutrient Database.

2. Kabocha and Buttercup Squash for Western Oregon Gardens- Oregon State College Extension Service.

3. Watch your backyard grow- College of Illinois Extension (PDF).