Gem squash

Gem squash (Cucurbita pepo) is a variety of summer squash that was domesticated from two wild varieties; Cucurbita texana found in the southern and central United States and Cucurbita fraterna found in Mexico. ^[1] The dark green spherical fruit, when fully ripe, is about the size of a softball (slightly larger than a tennis ball). The fruit needs to be boiled or baked in order to render it palatable. The young fruit is often harvested before it is ripe (about golf ball size) due to its having a more delicate flavour and texture.

Commonly served vegetable in South Africa, often boiled or baked. The cooked gem squash is then generally cut in half, and the inside is commonly covered in butter or brown sugar to enhance flavour.

References

1. ↑ Sauer, Jonathan D. (1993). Historical geography of crop plants - a select roster. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. ISBN 0849389011. 

v t e Cucurbita List of gourds and squashes Species C. andreana C. argyrosperma C. cordata C. digitata C. californica C. cylindrata C. ecuadorensis C. ficifolia C. foetidissima C. fraterna C. galeottii C. gracilior C. kellyana C. lundelliana C. martinezii C. maxima C. moorei C. moschata C. okeechobeensis C. palmata C. palmeri C. pedatifolia C. pepo C. radicans C. scabridifolia C. sororia C. texana Squashes Summer squash Gem squash Pattypan squash Tromboncino Yellow crookneck squash Yellow summer squash Zucchini Winter squash Acorn squash Big Max Butternut squash Kabocha Red kuri squash Spaghetti squash Turban squash Pumpkins 1068 Wallace Atlantic Giant Prizewinner List of pumpkin varieties Squash-based products Raw materials Buffalo gourd oil Pumpkin seed oil Dishes Pie Soup Mashed pumpkin Pepita Hitlerszalonna Activities Pumpkin chunking Pumpkin queen Pumpkin carving