Mystery Squash: Clue number 2

Suzanne is a trusted source on General Cooking.

added almost 2 years ago

Could it be a cucuzza, an Italian squash?

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mainecook61 added almost 2 years ago

Squash are promiscuous. They crossbreed like crazy, and hybrids that have gone to seed might also revert to a parent. If you seeded this yourself, you'd know, so I'm assuming this one came up on its own? I always have mystery squash in the garden, and I do have one that looks like yours, too. Last year, a very lusty butternut showed up in the corn rows and gave us dozens of squash without anyone ever planting a seed; these also happened to be true to type. You never know; maybe you have a brand new variety.

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SKK added almost 2 years ago

@mainecook61, wow - didn't realize squash had such an exciting life!

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prettyPeas added almost 2 years ago

I agree with sdebrango, though I would have suggested it is an opo squash. Upon further googling, I found that they are both names for the Lagenaria siceraria species
http://en.wikipedia.org...

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Chris is a trusted source on General Cooking

added almost 2 years ago

Sadly, while those cross-bred volunteer squash are often vigorous, they usually don't taste like much. I've often let them go ahead and grow, just because they're fun to watch. But then they end up in the compost.

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mainecook61 added almost 2 years ago

Greenstuff is right about the volunteer squash often not tasting like much. You never know when those genes are going to line up just right, however, and give the world a new variety.

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Helen's All Night Diner added almost 2 years ago

We always called the volunteer squash: zucumbers...They never really tasted very good. Great candidate for squash blossom recipes, though!

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Abbie is a trusted source on General Cooking.

added almost 2 years ago

My Mom calls squash the whores of the garden :-) We had a butternut / canteloupe hybrid a couple years ago. Looked pretty. Tasted gross.

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Panfusine added almost 2 years ago

This is called doodhi or ghia in Hindi, smooth light skin which can be easily peeled off. its used a lot in Indian cooking in stews & is a mainstay in making dumplings known as kofta.
Peel & dice the doodhi , about 2 cups, (check if it tastes bitter before you cook it), boil in 2 cups of water with a pinch of turmeric & salt. Make a gritty paste of 1/2 cup shredded coconut, 1-2 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp rice flour and 1 deseeded jalapeno, add it to the boiled doodhi till it thickens. Heat 1 tbsp of canola in skillet till smoking, add a tsp of black mustard seeds, 1 arbol chile & a sprigs worth of curry leaves, when the mustard pops add to the stew, Stir & serve with rice.

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