Pumpkin Squash (Gourds)

Nothing says fall like the Cucurbitaceae family! No, they’re not actually a family that only comes out in the fall. The Cucurbitaceae family is the Latin name for gourds, squash and pumpkins, which most of us lump into one big category of bumpy, Viney, hard to hack into, often ugly, mostly appealing ground growing things that grow in the . . . . fall! What’s the diff between gourds, squash and pumpkins? Read on. You’ll wow ‘em at your next dinner party.

Gourds. The ornamental squash, hardshell, bottle, turban and dipping (the most common) gourds aren’t much for eating. They’re decorative and can be dried into containers or Instagram worthy centrepieces, but don’t waste your time trying to crack into their hard shells for fleshy meat or seeds, they’re not designed for that. Still, they make you feel festive, so consider this calorie-free to enjoy outside the kitchen.

Squash. You got your Hubbard, butternut, acorn, delicata and spaghetti squash (to name just a few) that are perfect for roasting, souping, dicing, pureeing and all-around eating. The trick is to crack into the thick skin and dense flesh with a sharp knife and strong arm. Scoop out the seeds and you’re ready to follow your favourite squash recipe. A pound of winter squash is about 2 cups of flesh, and if you can’t be bothered with an arm workout in the kitchen, it may be smart to buy the pre-cubed butternut squash sold at the market. I won’t tell anyone. Winter squash is really mild in flavour and full of fibre, vitamins, minerals and it’s super satisfying for few calories. I just sauteed some, instead of potatoes, for brunch last weekend. YUM.

Pumpkin. The all occasion Cucurbitaceae, pumpkins are both ornamental and edible. Treat the super mini’s like gourds, and don’t waste your time trying to extract nutrition from them. They’re eye candy. The medium pumpkins are fantastic for making pumpkin bowl soup, which is as pretty as it is delicious. Use the large ones for jack-o-lantern Halloween fun and also for making roasted pumpkin to add to recipes all year long.