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Most Common Types of Summer Squash
Zucchini Squash
Zucchini is the most well-known and well-liked type of squash all over the world. You will probably know for it to be of green colour. However, it also comes in yellow and dark green with pale green stripes. It has average sweetness, power and it is neither too tough nor too weak. Moreover, it is really long and has flattened sides.
Also, it is neither too hard nor too soft, and the bigger it is, the less the flesh and more the water the squash contains. For this reason, you should buy the smallest and the hardest ones. These will be a little hard to find because these are one of the bigger types of squash.
Crookneck Squash
This is one of the most delicious types of summer squash. This type of squash is bulging from the bottom side and becomes thinners while curving towards the top. Crookneck squash, moreover, is usually found in yellow colour but the shapes, sizes and colors of this type of squash may vary from place to place.
While most of these are smooth and soft like the zucchini squash, others are somewhat bumpy and warty, as well. Be that as it may, this falls under the category of the harder squash, making it easy to be cooked at higher temperatures and longer times. These are, furthermore, usually within the size of 4 inches to 6 inches.
Pattypan Squash
Pattypan squash, more widely known as the "UFO squash", comes in many different colours and sizes that vary from place to place. This squash is scalloped from the sides, making it look like a space shuttle, hence the name UFO squash. Moreover, this type of squash is one of the hardest types of squash and requires longer cooking time at high temperatures, which is good because this way the squash, as well as the rest of the constituents, get cooked properly. For this reason, it is great to be used to make stews and chilis. This, again, comes usually comes in either yellow or light green colours and mostly taste just the same, with very slight variation.
Best Summer Squash Recipes to Amaze Your Loved Ones
Yellow Squash Curry
This Indian recipe with an American touch given to it is extremely delicious and is very easy to make, as well. All you need for this is one yellow squash, two tablespoons of oil, one onion, one minced green chili, one tomato, one teaspoon ginger garlic paste, one teaspoon red chili powder, one-quarter teaspoon turmeric powder, one teaspoon coriander powder, some salt, five curry leaves, some cilantro, one-quarter of a cup coconut milk, one-quarter of a teaspoon cumin seeds, one-quarter of a teaspoon mustard seeds, and one-quarter of a teaspoon garam masala.
First, put some oil in a medium-sized pan and add the mustard seeds, the curry leaves, and the cumin seeds to it. Now, you are going to put in the finely chopped onions and add green chili to it before sauteing properly. Next, add the garlic ginger paste and the chopped tomatoes to saute it for some more time, until the mixture forms a fine gravy.
After this step is done, put in the yellow squash and stir fry with; red chili powder, turmeric powder, salt, garam masala, and coriander powder, and then cook it. You may add some water to it as needed. Add the coconut milk and simmer before garnishing with coriander leaves and serving with plain rice.
Summer Squash Chicken Kebabs with Chimichurri Sauce
In case you want a very easy summer squash recipe, this Squash Chicken Kebabs With Chimichurri Sauce may be the best choice for you. For this recipe, you are going to need one cup cilantro, one-third cup fresh parsley, one medium chopped shallot, two medium cloves of garlic, three-quarter of a cup extra virgin olive oil, one-quarter of a cup red wine vinegar, one TB lime juice, half teaspoon salt, half teaspoon red pepper flakes, half teaspoon black pepper (for the sauce), one lb chicken breasts, one medium zucchini, one medium yellow squash, and one medium red onion.
First, process the cilantro, shallot, parsley, and garlic until it gets properly chopped. Now, get the mixture from the food processor and pour in the red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and lime juice and whisk it. Net, set aside one-third of the sauce for the marination process and refrigerate the rest of it to be used later on.
Now, coming to the making of the kebabs, cut the breasts on one-inch cubes and put them in a large bowl before adding in one-third of the sauce and covering the chicken cubes with it fully. Now, put the bowl with something and refrigerate it in the refrigerator for about two to four hours. In case you are using skewers, you need to soak them in pure water for about 20 to 30 minutes. Heat the grill and take out the chicken. Alternate the squash, chicken, zucchini, and onions on the wooden skewers and add a tablespoon of sauce over every kebab and grill till cooked.
Zucchini-Pesto Pizza
In case you want to add an Italian touch to your summer squash, this Zucchini-Pesto Pizza may be the best choice for you. For this simple yet delicious recipe, you are going to need one teaspoon olive oil, one large pre-baked pizza crust, two little tomatoes, one-quarter of a teaspoon salt, a half cup filled with refrigerated pesto, 227 grams of summer squash and zucchini, two tablespoons of olive oil, some grated Pecorino cheese, one-quarter of a teaspoon pepper, one lemon, and one-quarter of a cup mint leaves.
For this recipe, you will need to preheat your oven to about 425 degrees Fahrenheit and brush a large sheet with the olive oil before putting the thin crust on the prepared pan. Now, slice the tomatoes and sprinkle some salt over it. Place it on a towel and keep it there for about 10 minutes.
Next, put the pesto over the crust and blot the tomatoes before placing them on the pesto. Top it with some sliced summer squash and zucchini before putting some pepper, olive oil and the grated Pecorino cheese on it. Lastly, bake it for about 15 minutes and put the lemon and mint leaves over it.
Summer Squash Risotto with Fresh Garlic, Petite Peas & Basil
This Italian dish is one of the best ways to cook your summer squash. The things that you will need to cook this recipe are two tablespoons of olive oil, half cup of chopped Vidalia onion, two finely minced cloves garlic, one-quarter of a cup filled with white wine, four to five cups of vegetable broth, one cup of arborio rice, two yellow squash, half cup of petite peas, one-quarter of a cup fresh basil, one tablespoon vegan margarine, and ground pepper.
To make the Summer Squash Risotto With Fresh Garlic, Petite Peas & Basil, wash the yellow squash and cut it properly before setting it aside. Now, heat some olive oil in either a large saucepan or a dutch oven and put in the onion and garlic. Now, saute this for three to five minutes and pour in the rice and cook for about two minutes. Do not overcook it. Next, add the wine and stir before adding the broth. Add one ladleful at a time and keep stirring while you add it.
You will now have to wait till the broth is fully absorbed into the rice which will be about 15 minutes. Once this is done, add the peas and squash and continue stirring until the rice and vegetable are somewhat creamy, or about 5 minutes. Lastly, cut the heat and put in the fresh basil and margarine stir before seasoning it with some pepper or garnishing with some fresh basil. You may also top the dish with some lemon zest.
New Delhi-Style Stir-Fried Mixed Summer Squash
This vegetarian recipe is best suited for the people of India. It is extremely easy to make yet has a lot of flavour to it, as well. To make this delicious recipe, you are going to require some salt, one-third of a cup canola oil, one tablespoon mustard seeds (black), three dried red chilies, one-quarter of a cup unsweetened shredded coconut, one chopped jalapeño, one teaspoon of cumin seeds, twelve curry leaves, one-quarter of a teaspoon ground turmeric and two and a half pounds of mixed yellow squash/zucchini.
To make this dish, heat the canola oil in a large skillet till it shimmers and add the mustard seeds in it to cook at medium heat for almost one minute till the seeds pop. Now, put in the coconut, jalapeno, red chilies, cumin seeds, turmeric powder and the curry leaves in it and cook on very low heat, all the while stirring it, as well. Cook for two minutes or till coconut browns.
Next, increase the heat to high and add the yellow squash and/or small zucchini and cook while stirring and tossing, till it gets really tender for about 8 minutes. Lastly, you just have to season it with salt and cook for only one minute, before transferring it to a huge bowl and garnishing with whatever you want before serving it.
Simple Indian Spiced Summer Squash
In case you want to impress your family with a delicious dish but don't want it to be too complex, this is a great choice for you. For the Simple Indian Spiced Summer Squash, you will need one teaspoon of cooking oil, half teaspoon of cumin seeds, half jalapeno or green chili, one medium diced tomato, one diced yellow squash of medium size, two diced green zucchinis, some chili powder, half teaspoon turmeric powder and a handful of chopped cilantro.
To make the dish, heat a pan with the cooking oil and put the cumin seeds in your hand and press to get the oils from it. Now, put the cumin into the oil. If you see smoke coming, it means that the oil is too hot. If the temperature is too high, remove the pan from heat and let the pan cool down and once the temperature has lowered, proceed to cook on low heat.
Afterward, put in the jalapeno as these will add flavour to your recipe. Later, when you smell the aroma of the cumin, put in the tomatoes and stir them while cooking on low heat for two minutes. Once you are done, add the squash and zucchini and stir properly before covering with a lid and letting it cook for three to four minutes. Now, remove the cover and pour in the chili powder, turmeric, and salt, cook while stirring for five minutes. Lastly, garnish with cilantro and serve hot.
Benefits of Summer Squash
Iron and Folate
Two important nutrients, iron and folate are usually obtained from eggs, meat, and all other foods derived from animals. In vegetables, however, they are not that common, and yellow squash is one of the few vegetables that provide these nutrients.
One cup filled with yellow squash can get you about 355 micrograms of folate, and nearly 0.5 milligrams of iron. The two nutrients are essential for us, as they help in the maintaining an average production rate of red blood cells and the prevention of the anemia. Folate, moreover, also help during the early pregnancy period and also support the proper growth of fetus's nervous system and brain.
Boosts Red Blood Cells And Fights Cancer
One of the many benefits of summer squash is that it helps fight cancer as well, and so, it is recommended for people suffering from all types of cancer. Various studies were done on animals and human beings and have shown that this is the best step in the growth of blood vessels, and therefore, helps in moving the tumors from malignant to dormant.
Moreover, a summer squash of medium size has about 33 percent of Vitamin B6 that your body requires. This vitamin helps in the production of hemoglobin that transports the oxygen from one part of the body to another and is present in the red blood cells. In case you don't have enough B6, you can even suffer from anemia. Furthermore, it is water-soluble so you need to eat lots of it every day.
Helps in the Weight Loss Process
In case you are worried about getting too fat, summer squash may be the best choice for you. It helps you lose already-gained fat and also helps you to stay slim once you have lost all the extra fat. This is so because it is one of the few vegetables that are fat-free and contain a very low amount of calories as well. One cup of squash has only seven grams of carbohydrates, 36 calories, one gram fat and one gram protein.
Moreover, it gets all the calories from carbohydrates and is cholesterol-free. So, to lose weight, the only thing that you need to do is replace the rest of the vegetables like potatoes and corn, that contain lots of calories, with the yellow squash.
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Choosing the Right Squash to Achieve Maximum Health Benefits!
The choice of which type of quashing you use in your recipes does not only depends on the preference and availability, but also on what health benefit you expect to achieve. If you want to fight the inflammation in your body than remember to go for darker colours of squash; like the zucchini. Darker the colour, the more anti-inflammatory properties it is supposed to have. The yellow squash on the other hand has the densest quantity of various nutrients and minerals. So it is ideal for those looking for vitality!