Pattypan’s Properties and Benefits
Rich in water, vitamins, and minerals, squash is a draining and low-calorie food, composed of 95% water, making it an excellent ally for those who prefer a healthy, nutritious, and light diet. One of its main properties is its high concentration of vitamin A, and in particular its precursor component known as beta-carotene, a micronutrient belonging to the carotenoids essential for our body’s well-being thanks to its positive effect on healthy vision, the proper functioning of the immune system, and skin health. Sensitive to light and sun, beta-carotene helps protect the skin from sun exposure, also stimulating the production of melanin, as demonstrated by several scientific studies. Precisely for this reason, it is very often found as an ingredient in many sunscreens.
Its nutritional profile also includes B vitamins, vitamin C, and a rich variety of minerals such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium, which provide a stimulating and protective effect on the nervous system and regulate blood pressure. Pattypan squash also boasts a good fiber content, making it an excellent ally for digestive health and the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Furthermore, thanks to its high water content, pattypan squash is a hydrating food with diuretic properties, useful for promoting the elimination of excess fluids.
How to Use Pattypan Squash in The Kitchen
Small in size but big in flavor, the pattypan has a very distinctive flavor that stems from the dual nature of its hybrid origins: it’s sweet, reminiscent of a zucchini, but more assertive; it’s delicate like a pumpkin, but more distinctive, compared by some to artichoke hearts. How do you use this special ingredient in the kitchen? Practically however you like: the pattypan is suitable for any type of cooking.
You can bake squash in the oven, hollowed out and stuffed, or sauté it in a pan. You can eat it raw if it’s small and has a not-too-tough skin (and organic, of course). It’s excellent au gratin with béchamel sauce and grated cheese, and you can use it in place of pumpkin in any sweet or savory recipe featuring the vegetable. Pattypan squash also lends itself very well to making cream soups, adding a unique flavor and texture. Even its tiny seeds can be reused: simply toast them in the oven or pan and season with spices and herbs. They’ll then become a healthy snack or an excellent condiment.
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