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The calabaza, also known as the green pumpkin and West Indian pumpkin, is a popular squash variety that is grown throughout the Caribbean and in Central America and South America. It has a sweet taste and is typically used in recipes that call for butternut squash or pumpkin as an ingredient. Additionally, its seeds are edible and can be toasted and eaten whole.
Calabaza grows on a long vine in regions where the climate is warm and moist. Although it can be used similar to a pumpkin, it has a firmer inner flesh texture. It also cooks quicker than pumpkin because of its consistency. You can recognize a calabaza by its round shape and its varying outer skin color, which can be beige, green, or orange. Additionally, when a calabaza is cut open, its inner flesh is orange colored. Calabazas also grow into many sizes, including those that are sized similar to a small cantaloupe all the way up to those whose size resembles a large watermelon.
You can purchase calabazas year round in some supermarket chains and in specialty fruit and vegetable markets. Where available, select a calabaza that has a heavy feel to it when you pick it up. This ensures that the calabaza is fresh. Additionally, make sure that the calabaza does not have many marks or bruises on its outer skin and that it has a firm stem attached to it. Once you have purchased a calabaza, you can store it, whole, in your home for approximately one month as long as it is stored in a cool location. For instance, if you have a dry and dark basement, you may want to store it there. Additionally, freshly cut calabaza will last in your refrigerator for up to one week provided that it is covered with cellophane wrap or stored in an airtight container. You can also store cooked calabaza in your freezer for up to one year as long as it is stored in an appropriate freezer storage container.
Because calabaza is a squash, it can be used in many different vegetable recipes. For example, calabaza is good when added to soup, especially to pea soups. It is also delicious when steamed and then processed into a paste that can be used in pies. You can also use calabaza as a side dish, scooping out sections of its inner flesh then boiling the pieces for approximately one half hour. The same type of calabaza pieces can also be microwaved for quicker cooking. Calabaza pieces can also be baked in an oven or added, whole, to stews.
Calabaza is not only a versatile and tasty squash, but it is nutritious as well. Approximately one half cup of calabaza contains only 35 calories and is a good source of the vitamins A and C. Thus, it provides a healthy option for many meals and desserts.
Although calabaza is a tropical squash variety, its popularity of use is increasing in non-tropical regions. This is because of its sweeter taste, seeds that can be toasted and used as well as the flesh, and its ability to be used as an ingredient in entrees, side dishes, and desserts.
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