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Squash Recipes
SQUASH - Cucurbita pepo
General Preparation Info
The most popular species of squash, Cucurbita pepo, contains acorn squash, pumpkins, gourds, zucchini, pattypan, delicata, spaghetti squash, and countless other hybrid, cultivated, and wild varieties. Squash became one of the first domesticated crops, showing up nearly 10,000 years ago in southern Mexico. The most prolific of the “Three Sisters” trifecta of corn, beans, and squash, some varieties can reach enormous proportions.
COOKING NOTES ON SQUASH
Summer squash varieties hold a decent amount of water, so searing and stir-frying are good strategies. Winter squash varieties are much firmer and need to be roasted or braised. A surprisingly effective method of cooking winter squash is to split it, remove the seeds, add salt and butter, wrap with plastic wrap and microwave until tender. No joke, it’s so easy and garnishes fantastic results every time.