Squash comes in a huge variety, from zucchini to pattypan. Fresh from the growers’ market, it’s a welcome addition to the summer plate.
You know you can buy skinny green zucchini and yellow squash almost all year long at the grocery store, so what’s special about getting local, New Mexico-grown squash onto your plate this summer?
Here are the top five reasons local squash should be on your table:
1. VARIETY: This time of year it’s not just one variety of squash that you can layer into your burrito or vegetable lasagna, but rather you will find a wide selection of varieties at local growers’ markets. Here are just a few to look for.
• costata romanesco zucchini: long and green, ribbed and variegated, it never gets bitter and is a great multi-use choice
• green zucchini: narrow, long and green cylinder shape from end to end, it has a mild flavor
• pattypan squash: green, yellow or white, this “flying saucer” shape with scalloped edges is very versatile
• yellow crookneck: looks like its name, has a buttery flavor with firm texture
• golden zucchini: deep yellow or orange, it is cylinder shaped from end to end, and is slightly sweeter than the green type
• yellow squash: Like zucchini, but tapered at the end, with mild flavor
• ronde de Nice squash: round, ball-like green zucchini, great for stuffing
• zephyr squash: Slender in shape, yellow at the top with a light-green end and light white stripes, it is a firm, sweet-nutty flavored squash perfect for quick cooking
(In case you are wondering, squash encompasses both zucchini and yellow squash. The key difference is the shape: zucchini is shaped like a cylinder, while squash typically has one end that tapers. Yellow squash can also have more seeds.)
2. TASTE: Nothing comes close to the freshness you get from locally grown food. And that means you can spend less time preparing the food – simple is usually best.
3. VALUE: If you’re a bargain shopper, or have ever wondered if you can afford to shop at local growers’ markets, shopping for items in-season AND abundant is the key to affordability. And as anyone who has a garden or farm can tell you, squash is prolific. That means, better prices on this tasty item.
4. VERSATILITY: This is a vegetable that expresses itself well in a wide range of dishes. Nearly every cuisine in the world knows how to show it off – and its mellow, easy-going flavor makes it easy to experiment with all summer long.
5. HEALTH: Squash is an excellent low-calorie food, with only 19 calories per cup of raw squash. It is also high in fiber content and an outstanding source of manganese and vitamin C. And, studies have shown that foods that are eaten freshly picked have higher concentrations of vitamin C.
When you’re at your local growers’ market, take a stroll to see what different options you have in terms of varieties and price. Look for squash that are neither the smallest nor the largest. The skin should be tight and shiny – not waxed shiny – and it should be firm to the gentle squeeze.
When you get home, store in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. Once picked it prefers to be cool until you’re ready to use it.
If the summer squash has large seeds, remove them. Smaller summer squash will have seeds so tiny you can hardly see them, but as they grow, the seeds also grow, lending bitterness and an unfortunate texture to your recipes. In this case, scrape them out, as you would with winter squash, before continuing with your recipe.
If you are eating zucchini raw, you will want to remove some of the excess water. You can do this either by squeezing it in a dishtowel or by seasoning it lightly with
salt and draining it slightly before tossing it with the other ingredients to avoid adding excess liquid to your dish.
If you’re grating squash to add into a sauce or baked good, it melts down quite easily. Consider adding grated squash into pasta sauce or stir it into cooked rice to make it creamy like risotto.
And don’t forget about squash blossoms with their lovely petals. They are versatile and tasty! Try adding them, coarsely chopped, to your quesadillas, soups, and salads. When making pizza, layer the top with squash blossoms for a new and delicious pizza flavor.
Just remember that no matter what variety of squash you choose to bring home from your local growers’ market, your lunch or dinner table is sure to be enhanced by this affordable, delicious and highly adaptable vegetable.
For more great ideas of how what to do with squash this season (including grilling, dehydrating, and baking), visit our blog at farmersmarketsnm.org.
Denise Miller is executive director of the New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association.
SUMMER SQUASH RIBBONS
Serves 4
1½ pounds zucchini, yellow, or zephyr squash
1 shallot, very thinly sliced (about 2 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup basil (cut chiffonade style: roll and slice into thin strips)
¼ cup toasted pine nuts
2 ounces goat cheese (we like Old Windmill Dairy, made in Estancia, NM)
Trim the ends off the squash and, using a mandoline, vegetable peeler or knife, cut the squash lengthwise into very thin strips.
Place in a large bowl with the sliced shallot, olive oil and vinegar, and gently toss to combine. Let stand for 10 minutes.
Season to taste with salt and pepper. Then add the chiffonade-style cut basil and pine nuts and gently toss to combine.
Transfer to a serving dish and crumble goat cheese on top. Serve immediately.
– Recipe adapted from thekitchn.com
EASY ZUCCHINI SALAD WITH AVOCADO
Serves 4 as a salad, 2 as a side
4 zucchini, or any in-season summer squash, medium-sized
1 avocado
1 purple onion
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Wash the zucchini and slice them into rounds about 1/8 inch thick. Sprinkle the slices with salt and pepper.
Chop the onion into ½-inch pieces.
Cut the avocado into slices or cubes (your choice).
Heat the oil in a pan over medium high heat (don’t let the oil smoke).
Sauté the zucchini on both sides, until they have golden brown spots. (You can also grill the zucchini, if you like.)
Place the cooked zucchini in a bowl and let it cool for a few minutes (you can also do this beforehand and store the cooked zucchini in the refrigerator until ready to eat).
Top the zucchini with the onion and avocado.
Serve and enjoy!
– Recipe by NMFMA staff
