Do you love pumpkins, but aren't sure if you can eat the shell of a butternut?
In some cases you'd better peel it.
Autumn is here and you can now find pumpkins of all kinds in the supermarket for cooking, baking, carving or as decoration.
There are over 800 types of squash: the most well-known include Hokkaido, spaghetti, nutmeg and butternut squash.
Each variety has its advantages and special tastes.
The Hokkaido pumpkin is known for not having to peel it.
But what about the butternut squash?
Can you just leave the bowl on and eat with him?
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Along with the Hokkaido, the butternut is one of the most popular pumpkin varieties.
© Virginija Vaidakaviciene/Imago
Butternut Squash: When to Peel and When to Eat the Peel
The pear-shaped butternut squash offers a number of advantages: it has few seeds, but a comparatively large amount of flesh, which is particularly suitable for baking in the oven, for puree or soups.
As the name suggests, its taste is buttery and nutty.
The big question is: do you have to peel the butternut?
The good news first: the peel is edible.
So you don't necessarily have to peel it.
Now comes the but: the skin takes longer to cook than the flesh, so it tends to stay hard if you cook it for a short time.
This isn't for everyone, so consider peeling the squash if you don't like hard skin or chunks.
However, if you prepare the butternut in the oven, for example, where it cooks longer, you can leave the skin on, for example for pumpkin wedges.
But then it is essential
that they clean and wash the bowl thoroughly beforehand.
It is best to even buy an organic quality pumpkin.
Take a quick look in your fridge: these foods have to go
Take a quick look in your fridge: these foods have to go
Peeling butternut squash: this is how it's done
Cut off the core at both ends and halve the butternut squash lengthways.
Use a tablespoon to remove the seeds from the bottom.
Stand one half upright, hold it in one hand and use a knife to carefully cut the peel into strips with the other hand.
You can also use a vegetable peeler as the skin is quite thin.
Do the same with the second half of the pumpkin.
Don't throw anything away
By the way, you don't have to throw away the bowl.
Instead, make a snack out of it: cut the skins into small pieces and sauté them in hot oil along with finely diced onion.
Then season with salt, pepper and other spices of your choice.
You can dry and roast pumpkin seeds.
Depending on the recipe, cut the peeled butternut squash into pieces, strips or fill it with ground beef or another tasty filling.
Enjoy your meal!
List of rubrics: © Virginija Vaidakaviciene/Imago
