squash/pumpkin help needed...

[ratcreature]

Feeling slightly adventurous I bought this squash? pumpkin? of a kind that I've never eaten before. I don't know what it's called, because they were just labeled "miscellaneous squashes/pumpkins" (in German both are the same word) and there were a variety of them in the same bin, all for the same price. The one I got is quite small and white, and now I wonder what the best way to prepare it is. (I'm sure I could browse wikipedia for squash/pumpkin to identify it, and then google the name for recipes, but I'm lazy...)

Comments

[tazlet]

It's a squash - clean it, stem it, slice it, steam it, and eat it with butter.

[ratcreature]

So its seeds don't need removal?

[anotherslashfan]

Actually, it's sorted as a type of zucchini in Germany (see pic: http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Datei:Cukety1.jpg&filetimestamp=20070805113100).

Weird, huh?

I only found out about it a few months back when I was told to make "zuchini soup" with just this type of veg.

[ratcreature]

Huh.

I mean, since zucchini are a type of squash, I suppose it is not that weird when in reverse some are labeled zucchini, but I still think of the basic zucchini-ness of things is determined by them being sort of cucumber shaped squashes.

The German wikipedia also has them as Patisson, which I suppose must be the French name.

[anotherslashfan]

Yep, that's it, I also would have called them Patisson, but I can never remember that name... The naming of foodstuff in general is just so very very confusing.

[astridv]

We bought one of these under the name Ufo-Kürbis once, IIRC. It was very tasty in our standard pumpkin stir-fry recipe, but the skin was a pain to peel. Hard as steel. Next time I'd put it in the oven for 20 minutes or so, before cutting it up.

[ratcreature]

Yeah, cooking first, peeling later seems to be the best method for many pumpkin-type things with hard skins.

[neotoma]

It's a pattypan squash!

At least in American English. I recommend you slice it crosswise so you wind up with round section -- very decorative, and use it in whatever squash dish you like. E-How also has several suggestions for How to Cook Pattypan squash

[ratcreature]

Thanks for the links!

[lilacsigil]

Well, I'm as baffled as you! My go-to method for weird pumpkin-like things is to cut them in half, put them in the oven to roast, and scoop out the tender, tasty roasted flesh for ue in things like soup. Once it's roasted, if there's lots of tough skin or seeds, they're easy to remove.

[ratcreature]

Yes, baking seems a safe option. I think I'll try that tonight for dinner.

[ratcreature]

Thank you! (And I have no idea why LJ found your comment "suspicious", wtf?)

[droolfangrrl.livejournal.com]

Its a patty pan I think?

Ha! I was right.

[ratcreature]

Thanks!