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Calabaza Squash Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to calabaza squash products
About calabaza squash
Calabaza squash, also known as West Indian pumpkin or Cuban squash, is a winter squash commonly grown in tropical America, the Caribbean, and the Philippines. It forms part of the species Cucurbita Moschata, which originated in Central America or the northern parts of South America. You'll discover many popular varieties in this tropical species, such as butternut squash, Long Island cheese pumpkin, and Seminole pumpkin.
Calabaza squash has a super-tough rind with vertical ridges and can range in color from a mottled green to a light tan. The size of the squash varies from as small as a cantaloupe to as big as a watermelon. The flesh is yellow-orange and has a sweet, nutty flavor that's reminiscent of the taste of butternut or acorn squash. It also has a similar texture to butternut squash.
How to pick out calabaza squash
Calabaza squash, a winter squash, peaks in the fall through winter. However, you can generally find it in a store near you throughout the year. When you're shopping for calabaza squash, you want to look for one that's heavy for its size and still has a stem attached. Avoid any that have bruises, cuts, or soft spots.
Due to its super-tough skin that can be difficult to cut through, many shops and markets also sell chopped pieces of the squash. If you choose precut squash, look for bright, moist, and firm orange pieces. Soft pieces are an indication that the squash is beginning to spoil.
How to store calabaza squash
Because of its tough rind, a calabaza squash can last for two to three months if you store it in a cool, dry place. If the squash starts leaking liquid or turns soft in places, it has begun to spoil, and you should discard it. Once you've cut open a calabaza squash, place the remaining pieces in an airtight container or bag in the refrigerator and use them within 10 days. You can freeze cooked cubes of calabaza squash for up to eight months.
Calabaza Squash Near Me
Buy your favorite Calabaza Squash online with Instacart. Order Calabaza Squash from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about calabaza squash
As is the case with other winter squash varieties, calabaza squash comes packed with nutrients. The orange color of the squash's flesh means that it contains plenty of beta-carotene and lutein, classified as flavonoids. They act as powerful antioxidants that help protect and strengthen the cells and tissues in your body against diseases.
Calabaza squash also contains vitamin C, which, together with beta-carotene, will boost your immune system. You'll also get plenty of fiber from calabaza squash, which will keep your digestive tract healthy and can also help to lower blood sugar levels in people with type 1 diabetes. Calabaza squash is an excellent source of vitamin A, which is essential for healthy hair and skin. Lastly, calabaza squash contains potassium, which lowers cholesterol and keeps the heart healthy. With many health benefits from calabaza squash, you'll find plenty of reasons to incorporate it into your diet and the meals you prepare.
Calabaza squash is a versatile vegetable that you can use in sweet and savory dishes. You can bake, grill, steam, roast, or saute the squash. Incorporate this vegetable into various dishes, including stir-fries, curries, soups, stews, puddings, pies, and casseroles. Since calabaza squash tastes much like butternut or acorn squash, you can use it in any recipes that call for these two types of squashes. Don't forget to save the seeds! Baking them in the oven makes for a healthy and delicious snack.
Calabaza squash often appears as a stuffing in Mexican dishes, such as quesadillas, empanadas, tacos, and enchiladas. The squash also stars in the sweet Mexican dish called Calabaza en Tacha, consisting of squash slices cooked together with sugar, guava, and cinnamon syrup. This traditional dessert commonly takes its place in Day of the Dead commemorations.
Together with corn and climbing green beans, calabaza squash forms part of the "Three Sisters" method of planting. These vegetables are all staples in the Native American diet. They are grown together as companion plants because they all benefit from each other. While the corn provides tall stalks for the beans to grow on, the beans produce nitrogen that fertilizes the soil. The large leaves of the squash plant provide shade that keeps the moisture in the soil, while the prickly stems of the plant prevent weeds from growing.
Open the Instacart app and add a squash or two to your shopping basket. One of our friendly Instacart shoppers will select fresh calabaza squash for you and deliver it to you within a few hours! By shopping online with us, you get to spend more time preparing fresh, healthy meals for you and your family.