THE OLAV BLOG: FOOD KNOWLEDGE
05.10.2021 I Romina, Content Creation
In this pumpkin guide, we tell you which pumpkins are actually available and how many different ways you can prepare the vegetable. We show you the pumpkin must-haves and those that are less suitable for eating but ideal for your Halloween decorations.
Look
The butternut squash is characterised by its pear-shaped body. The colour is classically yellowish-orange.
Taste
The taste of butternut squash is primarily sweet and mild. What is interesting is that this pumpkin has a buttery aroma, which makes it very special.
Preparation
The processing is basically quite simple: the seeds are only in the lower part of the pumpkin and the skin must be removed before cooking.
Use
Due to the buttery taste, you can make a delicious creamy soup from the butternut squash.
Look
The well-known Hokkaido pumpkin is traditionally bright orange and roundish in shape.
Taste
The Hokkaido pumpkin is characterised by a nutty flavour, but tends more towards the sweetish pumpkin.
Preperation
Preparation couldn't be easier, as you can cook and eat the peel as well.
Use
The Hokkaido pumpkin is a true all-round talent: you can cook delicious soups, let the pumpkin get nice and friable in the oven and even make jam from it.
Look
The nutmeg pumpkin can be recognised by either its dark green or bright orange skin. The flesh is light brown-orange.
Taste
This pumpkin also tastes nutty and, as the name suggests, has a delicate muscat flavour.
Preperation
The peel must be removed from the nutmeg pumpkin - it would not cook completely soft.
Use
Nutmeg pumpkins can be used in a variety of ways in soups, gratin dishes and even cakes.
Look
As the name suggests, "The Long of Naples" is very long. The skin is mostly green, but the flesh is light orange.
Taste
The long pumpkin tastes very fruity and, typically for its genus, also nutty.
Preperation
As this pumpkin can grow up to 1.5 m long, it is often sold already in slices. This makes it particularly easy to prepare and all you have to do is remove the peel.
Use
The Long of Naples is ideal for soup or lasagne.
Look
The spaghetti squash has a characteristic yellow skin and yellow flesh.
Taste
The taste of the spaghetti squash is mainly mild and a little nutty.
Preperation
This is the special feature of the pumpkin: after cooking, the flesh comes away like real spaghetti - that is, in long noodle-like fibres.
Use
Due to the special shape of the cooked pumpkin, the pumpkin spaghettis can be used as a pasta-like side dish.
Look
The oil pumpkin is very small and handy. The colour is often green and speckled.
Taste
The flesh tastes aromatic and has a nutty hint.
Preperation
Das Besondere am Ölkürbis ist, dass man die Kürbiskerne rösten kann und daraus leckere Knusperkerne entstehen. Auch kann man aus den Kernen reichhaltiges Kürbiskernöl gewinnen.
Use
The oil pumpkin is often used to make jams and chutneys.
Look
The pumpkin can be recognised by its special UFO shape. In addition, it is mostly white and speckled - but you can still eat it whole.
Taste
The taste is described as neutral and mild, similar to courgettes.
Preperation
The strange-looking skin of the patisson can be eaten along with it, which makes it child's play to prepare.
Use
The patisson is ideal as an oven vegetable. Due to the matching shape, you also can stuff the pumpkin.
Look
Everyone knows them: Courgettes are green, small and long.
Taste
You can use courgettes very flexibly, because they taste extremely mild.
Preperation
It is really easy to prepare: the peel and seeds can be eaten as well.
Use
Courgettes make wonderful stir-fried vegetables. You can even make "zoodles", i.e. noodles from courgettes.
They look delicious to eat, but are absolutely not suitable for consumption: Ornamental pumpkins are grown purely for decorative purposes.
The flesh contains many bitter substances called cucurbitacin - but the eye-catching look is ideal for a colourful garden and autumnal room decoration.
Poisonous pumpkin varieties can also grow in your garden and supposedly edible pumpkins can spontaneously mutate back into pumpkins with dangerous bitter substances. So, in case of bitter notes, refrain from further consumption in any case and rather leave the beautiful colourfulness to your decoration.