Can anyone tell me how to prepare and cook these? They are Hunter F1. Came from the Big Dig free seeds offer. They are hanging in a net in my laundry. I have seen them in Salisbury's and waited by them hoping someone would buy one and I was going to ask them for instructions but no one did. They are quite hard. How do I know when they are ripe, and do I peel them? I have 13 so please help.
wow, lucky you, all ours died off ;D
roasted with oil and seasoning with the roast, souped up with sweet potato and chilli..they're usually ripe when you pick them, peel with a potato peeler if you wish..peel, chop up, take out the seeds with a spoon, in the oven and cook ;D
couple more ideas
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,25586.0.html
My OH cuts them in half, hollows them out, pan fries the middle with butter, salt and pepper, puts that back in the hollow, adds cheese and mushrooms, wraps both halves individually in tin foil and bakes in oven for a while till bubbly. Yum yum bubblegum! ;D
Thanks . If you were nearer I would give you some. Do you have contact with anyone down here.
I think the other plot holders were impressed. Beginners luck. I surprised myself.
I will cut one up and roast it. Thanks again.
Quote from: emmy1978 on December 08, 2009, 18:33:23
My OH cuts them in half, hollows them out, pan fries the middle with butter, salt and pepper, puts that back in the hollow, adds cheese and mushrooms, wraps both halves individually in tin foil and bakes in oven for a while till bubbly. Yum yum bubblegum! ;D
Thanks for this. Do you fry the seeds or the flesh? Sounds good.
BTW tomatoada-I love the idea of you lurking around the squashes waiting to pounce on someone and ask them how to cook it! That's the sort of thing I would do!! Well done growing them-I grew little ones last year (with seeds from here!) and they were gorgeous but hard work!
also nice in risotto i may add. :)
just spotted your question-not sure about seeds, the ones in F1 are quite big I think so he prob scoops them out then cooks the flesh up. Only gently and not for long. :)
I like to bake with butter, brown sugar & chilli flakes in the halves.
That sounds delicious.
cut in half lengthways,scoop out seeds and pith, brush with oil, bake in oven 'til soft. serve chilli in the 'bowl' ;)
They are supposed to be hard and if they go soft they are about to rot.
The simplest way to prepare and cook them is, cut them into quarters length wise, scoop out the seeds, place the quarters in an open microwave dish and microwave for 10 -20 mins, till the flesh is soft. Scrape the flesh off the skin and enjoy. The flesh can be used as a vegetable, made into pumpkin pies, added to homemade bread.
I chop mine up and fry (or bake) until soft in olive oil and a bit of butter. I like them just like that or with a coating of tomato and cheese and herbs and grilled (fry first).
13 is amazing. I thought I was doing very well with 5.
I love butternut and mustard mash..................just peel and cook in water until soft, mash and add finely chopped spring onions, then stir in a little coarse grain mustard mixed with a little natural yogurt or fromage frais, serve with chops or sausages .................yummy :)
that also sounds delicious! they are lovely comfort food aren't they! :)
I think I am getting the idea. Thanks all.
I tried to put a photo on here [see computors] but it may take some time.
We roast in chunks (unpeeled )with parsnips,celeriac,onins,garlic and potatoes.We're having it tomorrow with pork chops.I'm salivating as I type :)
I never peel mine either, I just chop and drizzle with garlic olive oil and throw it in the oven with other root veg.
BS also makes a fantastic soup too!
Right. Roast today. Chop. Scoop out seeds like a marrow. Olive oil. Into the oven. 200 degrees 45 Min's O.K.? Thanks again.
Don't forget to dry off the seeds to plant out next year.
Or you can roast them and snack on them if you think they wont grow.
I just halve and fill the hollow with garlic butter, wrap in foil or leave open and bake skin kept on then use a spoon to scoop out the middle when it is soft, I like them very soft. We don't eat the skins though it is not nice and crispy like jacket spuds. They are rather hard to peel and I think it is wasteful with them to peel them first.
I have not made soup with them but I am told that it is beautiful.
I love to roast mine with chillies, olive oil, garlic and sweet potato and then when soft, mash the whole lot together.....yummy.......
BBC Good Food has some interesting recipes - http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/search.do;jsessionid=AA6CC7FE4A42DE3FA16F929701E2EA15?keywords=butternut+squash&filterItem=&filterItem=&filterItem=&filterItem=&filterItem=&filterItem=&filterItem=&filterItem=&filterItem=&filterItem=&x=32&y=11
Thanks again.
If I save the seeds will they come true as they are F1 s.
I am afraid not.
emmy1978 I ofton lurk by products which I fancy and ask if they are nice. Perk of an OAP. We don't know what some of the new things are.
Thanks for the reply on F1s.
Ah Tomotoada-I'm 31 but I do it. You oaps aren't allowed all the perks y'know! I also tell people if what they are looking at is nice so I return the favour!! ;D
As I am fairly tall I often get asked to get things of the top shelf. It ususally starts an exchange of ideas. Sometimes I get chatted up by lone males and if someone is with me I warn them before hand not to "queer my pitch" . I am not keen on shopping so hype myself up to get through it.