Have you ever gone to a grocery store and been face-to-face with an enormous, bright orange banana squash? Well, you’re in for a treat! When you buy banana squash, know that it will not just be your winter veggie but also a next versatile and yummy item to turn into many scrumptious recipes out there. Specifically, if you’re craving to bake or roast or steam this marvelous squash entirely from the scratch, then I’m on board to provide a step-by-step guide in conjunction with most of my tricks and tips that would make your culinary journey a great adventure. So follow along this quick guide, and learn how to cook banana squash!
Understanding Banana Squash
Banana squash, with that funny name and elongated shape, is a winter squash which pales in comparison to its tastier brethren of butternut or acorn.
But here is something I will say, make some room on your counter for the banana squash.
This is a fruit with sweet, nutty flavor and creamy texture that goes great in so many meals. The squash can be any shade from dusty yellow to deep orange and sometimes get quite big. Well, some of them can weigh as much as 10 pounds! But do not be scared by this. The giants of squash give the biggest bang for their bite!
Choose solid, unblemished skin when selecting for yourself a few banana squash at the shop. If you find nicks and marks, you can accept it as long as there are no soft spots or visible mold.
And once you have it at home, storing right is key. Store in a cool, dark place (like your pantry or cellar) and it will keep for weeks to months. I once held onto one for two full months before I got around to cooking it and still it looked great.
Not just tasty, banana squash brings with some nutrition too. It is a good source of vitamins A, and C as well as potassium and fiber. All that good stuff helps support your immune system, digestive health and even skin!
That way not only are you spicing up your meals but also doing something good for your body. Enjoy this vitamin packed, delicious squash! Did you know that this humble stuff could offer such a hearty helping of nutrients?
Preparing Banana Squash
There are a few things you need to do before cooking banana squash. This may seem like a lot of work but with the right tools, it is incredibly easy.
Tools required: A big board Fairy sharp knife and a spoon.These essentials will make the whole thing just run a lot more smoothly.
To do this, begin by taking your squash for a little bath. A cold water scrub to remove any dirt or debris in the rind of the vegetable is all that’s needed.
This is an important step, especially as this kind of stuff has to be cooked whole with the skin. I only did that once and then wound up with gritty bites.
Then, cut off the ends of the squash to create a stable base. Chop that sucker up. This is huge with regards to dividing the problem in easily digestible parts and it even goes hand in glove.
Don’t forget, the larger pieces make them manageable by peeling or cutting up even more. Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and stringy pulp. Save those seeds! Or, you can save them to roast for a crispy snack later. Cooking adventures of this kind begins after a good prep session like this one.
How to cook banana squash: Cooking Methods
Banana squash is similar to other winter squashes such as acorn, butternut as it is a great vehicle for intense flavors—roast, steam or bake banana squash at home to pull out the best from the ingredients. Every method of preparing it imparts its own unique flavor, so read on and learn how to cook banana squash the very best way.
My favorite is to bake banana squash. And if you ask us, it gives this dish a beautiful sweet taste that is beyond perfection. Preheat your oven to 375°F and while it’s heating up, lubricate the squash with butter or olive oil and season it. Wrap them in aluminum foil, place on a pan and roast until they yield easily to the point of a paring knife — about 45 minutes.
Make this recipe for an easy treat: Brown Sugar Banana Squash: Top with a dash of brown sugar and cinnamon before baking, like the hug you get on a cold day!
Baking roasts provides them a little caramelized flavor to generate salads or facet dishes. Cube or thinly slice squash, toss with olive oil salt and pepper on a baking sheet. And then roast at 400°F for about 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. One of my things right now is Roasted Banana Squash & Spinach Salad — the crispy edges and tender middle are aces.
Another great option is steaming, especially when you want to go for lighter options. Cut squash in half or quarters, steam until tender over about 15-20 minutes. You are welcome to season with little salt and lemon juice. By steaming bananas, you can maintain nutrients in this fruit which gives you a perfect healthy and tasty banana squash recipe to eat.
Creative Recipes
We will now have some fun with simple recipes for banana squash that the entire family will enjoy and come back wanting more! Banana squash is as versatile as a veggie because it pairs with just about anything flavor, sweet or savory and even spicy flavors too!
Stuffed Banana Squash: It’s as versatile as it gets. Stuff the hollow squash with meat, rice or even cheesy veggies. I also tried it with quinoa, black beans and corn topped off melted cheddar one time. It was a hit! It is all in how you flavor the filling and cook it until everything has softened together.
Vegan Banana Squash Coconut Curry (for those who are going a bit vegetarian):
The coconut is insanely creamy & pairs perfectly with the natural sweetness of squash. And mix it all up with chickpeas, spinach and an army of spices for comforting light meal that offers a solid nutrition punch. All you need is some rice to put under this and it feels like a great big hug.
Gourmands will love Sweet Banana Squash. Use it as a dessert in place of something unhealthy, or even mix it with your meal. Just bake the squash with honey, cinnamon and a few nuts… A yummy way to have your squash – dessert or comfort-food side dish!
Tips and Tricks
The trick to cooking banana squash
Just grab yourself a cup of coffee, and start washing those seeds! As with pumpkins, banana squash seeds are saved, stored and used as and when you feel like. Scrub them with a little salt and olive oil, roast for the perfect healthy snack. You feel like you get two for the price of one!
The cooked banana squash must be stored well then you are ready to go with your leftovers. Storing it in an airtight container and kept cold will keep this fresh for 4-5 days. Planning to use it later? Cooked banana squash freezes well, too. Freeze it in freezer-safe bags, and you can have jam ready to go for months. Perfect for quick meals!
But it is not the easiest to wheel out of a parking garage and reheat. Unless you’re careful, squash has a way of getting mushy. I would recommend using an oven or at the stove instead of microwave for reheating purposes because they give a great texture than microwave.
Please keep it away from a microwave at all costs. Getting mushy tasteless squash is quite common. Check on it and taste! Hang out in your kitchen and cook up a storm! Experiment with different ways of cooking (because that’s what it is all about) to discover which ones you like the most.
Conclusion
How to cook banana squash
This is just one of the many amazing ways to enjoy, now that you know how to cook banana squash, and you might even discover a new world of flavors. We started with a discussion on what banana squash is and how to choose the right one, and then moved on to various ways of baking roasting or steaming it. Every way of preparation discovers a different flavor that can enrich any dish.
I hope these two recipes will have you inspired. Between the simple Roasted Banana Squash & Spinach Salad to the much more exotic Vegan Banana Squash Coconut Curry, there is a lot you could do with this modest veggie. Let me know your version and add any fun twist of yours. Cooking, after all, is personal!
The next time you see a banana squash in the store, just take one and try some of these ideas out. Believe me, when you start cooking with banana squash, it will easily turn into a household favorite. Good luck and happy cooking!
