Squash are classified as winter or summer, depending on whether they are harvested and consumed when they are young or fully developed.
Winter squash, like butternut squash and pumpkin, are eaten when the fruit is fully ripe. When mature, winter squash has a hard outer shell that protects the flesh from the elements, making them ideal for long-term storage.
There are several varieties of winter squash to choose from, each with its own color and flavor.
Here are the 10 best winter squashes for your health.
Pumpkins belong to the Cucurbitaceae plant family, which also includes zucchini, pumpkins, and squash. As its name suggests, squash is shaped like an acorn, and the skin can have many different colors from white to dark green. The pumpkin flesh is orange-yellow in color, has a sweet, slightly fleshy taste, so it is the perfect choice for fall and winter dishes.
Squash is an excellent source of vitamin C and is also high in vitamin A, potassium, magnesium and several B vitamins. It contains many antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, including the carotenoids alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and zeaxanthin, May help protect cells from oxidative damage.
Squash is delicious roasted, grilled or steamed and can be added to dishes such as salads, soups and baked goods. When cooked properly, the highly nutritious outer skin becomes tender enough to eat, so there’s no need to peel this popular winter squash.
Pumpkins are one of the most popular winter squashes. Its orange flesh has a sweet, nutty flavor and is packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals and protective plant compounds.
Just one cup of cooked pumpkin provides more than 100% of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin A and more than 30% of the DV for vitamin C. Vitamins A and C play several essential roles in health, including All functions work strongly. Antioxidants neutralize reactive compounds called free radicals, protecting cells against damage that can lead to disease. Vitamins A and C are also necessary for the normal functioning of the immune system.
In addition to vitamins A and C, pumpkin is also rich in carotenoid plant pigments and minerals such as potassium, magnesium and manganese.
Like butternut squash, butternut squash can be used in both savory and sweet dishes, such as baking, cereal dishes, and soups. Try roasting diced pumpkin with olive oil and seasoning with salt, pepper and a little cinnamon for a delicious fall dish.
Spaghetti squash has a much different texture than other winter squashes. When cooked, spaghetti meat has a fibrous texture and resembles thin spaghetti noodles. Plus, it is lower in carbs than other winter squashes, such as butternut squash. One cup of cooked spaghetti squash contains only 10 grams of carbs. For comparison, one cup of cooked squash provides 29.9 grams of carbs. This is why people following low-carb diets often use spaghetti squash as a low-carb alternative to pasta.
In addition to being low in carbs, spaghetti squash also contains fiber, vitamin C, B vitamins and manganese, but has a lower nutritional value than other winter squashes, such as acorns and avocados.
One of the most popular ways to prepare spaghetti squash is to scoop out the seeds, poke the skin in a few places with a fork, then roast the flesh side up for 30-45 minutes at 350 degrees Celsius. Once the squash has cooled, the flesh can be scooped out. out and enjoy.
Delicata squash isn’t as popular as butternut squash or acorn squash, but its sweet flavor and versatility will likely make this winter squash a new source of healthy carbohydrates.
Delicata squash has a very sweet, pumpkin-like taste and thin, soft skin. You can enjoy it without having to cut or peel the outside, making preparation much easier than other winter squashes. It’s low in calories but rich in nutrients like fiber and potassium, a mineral often lacking in modern diets. Potassium is essential for a number of important processes in the body, including controlling blood pressure, which is why including potassium-rich foods in your diet is essential for good health. One cup of delicious squash provides 13% DV for this important nutrient.
A delicious way to enjoy delicious squash is to incorporate thin slices of grilled squash into grain dishes and salads.
Red kuri squash is a Hubbard winter squash that stands out with its interesting teardrop shape and vibrant red-orange skin. Its flesh is extremely sweet and nutritious, containing lots of vitamin C, vitamin A and minerals such as potassium. Furthermore, its skin becomes tender and edible when cooked thoroughly, making this squash an easy-to-prepare carbohydrate choice.
Red kuri squash is popular as an ornamental squash for fall and winter decoration and can also be enjoyed in soups, baked dishes and as a flavorful side dish. To cook red kuri squash, cut the squash in half, remove the seeds, and cut into strips. After coating the strips in olive oil and spices, bake them at 400 for about 30 minutes.
If you like sweet squash, look no further than sweet squash. These small apple-shaped winter squashes are cream colored with dark green stripes. Their flesh has a very sweet taste and creamy texture that is delicious grilled or broiled.
In addition to its candy-like taste, sweet squash is an excellent source of antioxidants, including phenolic compounds and carotenoids like beta-carotene. Studies show that sweet squash has high free radical scavenging activity, meaning that enjoying this squash regularly may help reduce the risk of health conditions associated with free radical damage, such as heart disease and inflammatory diseases.
Try stuffing grilled sweet dumplings with quinoa, feta, and cranberries for a fun fall-themed dish.
Musque de Provence is a French pumpkin in the same family as squash and pumpkin. Its beautiful golden brown color and unique shape make it a popular decorative pumpkin choice for fall decorations. In addition to its eye-catching appearance, this pumpkin’s sweet, bright orange flesh is also very nutritious, providing vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins C and A, as well as phenolic antioxidants.
Due to its large size, Musque de Provence is often sold by the slice in French markets to make it easier to prepare. Although this squash can be enjoyed raw, it is best roasted or grilled, which imparts a sweet flavor.
If you’re looking for a fun and unique winter squash to grow in your garden, consider the North Georgia Candy Roaster pumpkin. This pink squash has a teal green top, is shaped like a banana, and is giant in size. In fact, the North Georgia Candy Roaster can weigh up to 15 pounds when fully grown.
It has a sweet, pumpkin-like taste and is often used to make pies, soups and baked goods. Like other orange-fleshed winter squashes, North Georgia Candy Roasters are rich in nutrients like vitamin C and vitamin A, and make a nutritious source of carbohydrates.
North Georgia Candy Roaster squash can be roasted, steamed, boiled and grilled and its cooked flesh can even be frozen for long-term storage.
Kabocha squash, also known as Japanese pumpkin, has a dark green skin and sweet, bright orange flesh, perfect for fall dishes like soups, stews, baked goods and salads. Kabocha squash is high in essential nutrients, such as potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C.
Kabocha squash is sweeter than many other winter squashes, including butternut squash, so it is often incorporated into sweet dishes such as pies and cakes. However, it is also delicious in savory dishes such as winter soups.
For a simple side dish, cut the kabocha squash into pieces after removing the seeds, then roast each piece for 30 minutes at 420 degrees. When cooked, the skin becomes soft and edible, which is makes kabocha squash easy to prepare.
Hubbard zucchini is a unique winter squash with a beautiful bluish-green skin. The sweet, yellow flesh of Hubbard zucchini is rich in fiber, vitamins A and C, potassium and several other nutrients.
Just one cup of Hubbard zucchini provides 10 grams of fiber, which is more than 35% of the DV for fiber intake, currently set at 28 grams. Eating enough fiber is important for digestive health and helps prevent constipation, promote healthy bowel movements, and promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract.
Try grilling or roasting the flesh of Blue Hubbard squash and adding it to dishes like quinoa salad and rice pilaf, or enjoy it simply as a flavorful side dish.
Winter squash is a variety of squash that is harvested and eaten when fully mature. Most winter squashes are sweet and can be enjoyed in both sweet and savory dishes, such as soups, salads and baked goods.
Acorn squash, delicata squash, and butternut squash are just a few examples of winter squash that are both nutritious and delicious.
Try incorporating the winter squashes listed above into your diet this fall and winter for an easy way to take care of your health from the inside out.
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