And it's not about to get any easier! So bear with me for a second while we both get through this. Now, why did we go down this botanical rabbit hole? Because classification gets a little complicated. So, when you call something a "pumpkin" or a "squash" or a "gourd," that really doesn't mean anything according to taxonomy if you're just using the term colloquially. The terminology isn't standardized across variety, let alone across country or around the globe, though. Gourds is a generic term used to vaguely describe different types of fruits that are in the cucumber family. And "pumpkin" is really more of a colloquial term than an actual classification. ![]() Both pumpkins and squash are gourds, but the term "gourd" is used both for specific varieties of ornamental gourds as well as the parent category of the cucumber family. So, what is it? Is it a squash? A pumpkin? Some general variation of gourd? What Are Gourds?Īll pumpkins are squash, but not all squash are pumpkins. So, you can see where this starts to get confusing! Calabaza is a squash that looks like a carving pumpkin, is roasted like a pie pumpkin, and tastes like an enormous butternut squash. While it's a specific variety typically grown for roasting, "calabaza" is also the Spanish word for "pumpkin." What we call "calabaza" is an edible gourd that's about the size of a very heavy carving pumpkin and looks like something that Cinderella would use as a carriage. ![]() ![]() What Are Squash?Ī good example of this pumpkin vs. What might be called a "pumpkin" in one country, might be translated to a "squash" in another. This is why you often see the term "squash" and "pumpkin" used interchangeably, especially around the globe. They have no scientific definition or distinction from squash, though. "Pumpkin" is more of a colloquialism used to describe round, orange squash. Part of the reason for this is that "pumpkin," "squash," and "gourd" aren't actually technical classifications. chia, quinoa), and even the bark of some plants is edible (yellow birch, red spruce). Although this is often broken up into subcategories, including the flower itself (artichokes, broccoli), bulbs (onions, garlic), leaves (herbs, lettuce), stems (celery, rhubarb), roots (carrots, potatoes), seeds (i.e. Vegetables are every other part of the plant. Apples, pears, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, and squash are all fruit. Fruit develops from the flowering part of the plant and contain seeds. We like to call them a vegetable, but this is technically incorrect. Yes, I said fruit! Pumpkins, squash, and gourds are all fruit. This isn't quite as easy as it sounds, though! Did You Just Say Fruit?įor starters: Yes. While summer is softer and often found in salads and stir fries.Īnd gourds are those small, ornamental variations that we put out at Thanksgiving and the larger, hard-shelled gourds used to make utensils and rattles. Winter is more typically used for roasting, with a hard inedible shell. Squash tend to come in two varieties: summer (yellow crookneck, zucchini) and winter (butternut, acorn). They're similar to carving pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns, but much more palatable! Pie pumpkin are small, round pumpkins used for baking. I want to start this by making a distinction between squash, pumpkins, and gourds. I recently cracked into an absolutely enormous Calabaza and it's officially my new favorite thing to roast! There are a plethora of other fruits in the gourd family that are great for roasting. When thinking about roasting pumpkins, squash, and other gourds for purée, my favorites are pie pumpkins and butternut squash. What's the Difference Between Pumpkins, Squash, and Gourds? And how to roast pumpkins, squash, and various gourds for purée is a staple that every home cook can master. ![]() There are plenty of other gourds to roast. After all, every fall season we're inundated with dreams of pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, and pumpkin pie lattes! While most coffee drinks contain no actual pumpkin and are artificially flavored, everything else requires pumpkin purée! Pie pumpkins are by no means the only thing to purée, though. When we think about roasting pumpkins, squash, and other gourds, we tend to think about roasting pie pumpkin.
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