Red kuri squash (

katakana is a Japanese syllabary, one component of the Japanese writing system along with hiragana, kanji and in some cases the Latin script (known as rōmaji). The word ''katakana'' means "fragmentary kana", as the katakana characters are derived f ...

: ウチキクリ) is a thin skinned orange colored

winter squash Winter squash is an annual fruit representing several squash species within the genus ''Cucurbita''. Late-growing, less symmetrical, odd-shaped, rough or warty varieties, small to medium in size, but with long-keeping qualities and hard rinds, are ...

, a cultivated variety of the species '' Cucurbita maxima''. It looks like a small pumpkin without the ridges. It belongs to the Hubbard squash group. Inside the hard outer skin there is a firm flesh that provides a very delicate and mellow chestnut-like flavor. Other varieties of this subspecies include 'Hokkaido', 'Red Hokkaido' and 'Sweet Meat' squashes.Systax database at the University of Ulm
accessed 11 Sep 2010

History

It is generally believed that all

squash Squash may refer to: Sports * Squash (sport), the high-speed racquet sport also known as squash racquets * Squash (professional wrestling), an extremely one-sided match in professional wrestling * Squash tennis, a game similar to squash but pla ...

originated in

Mesoamerica Mesoamerica is a historical region and cultural area in southern North America and most of Central America. It extends from approximately central Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and northern Costa Rica ...

, but may have been independently cultivated elsewhere, albeit later. Red kuri squash is commonly called "Japanese squash", "orange Hokkaido squash", "baby red hubbard squash", or "Uchiki kuri squash". In Japan, the word ''kuri'' may refer to either the squash discussed in this article or to Japanese chestnuts. In France, it is called '' potimarron'', and in the United Kingdom, it is commonly called "onion squash". Primarily grown in Japan,

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, Southwestern Colorado,

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, and

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, red kuri is widely adapted for climates that provide a growing season of 100 days or more. Most of the California, Colorado, Tonga and New Zealand crops are exported to Japan.

Characteristics

This hardy squash grows to maturity in full sun and is drought tolerant. Each vine produces multiple teardrop-shaped fruits, usually three. The squash matures about ninety days after blooming. The squash is a hard-shelled winter variety with firm yellow flesh. The flesh often has a green tint under the seeds.

Culinary uses

Full-flavored and sweet, red kuri squash is often cooked with butter and herbs. It is an ingredient in a variety of soups, stews and casseroles. It can be made into cakes, quick breads, muffins, cookies, jams and pies with its nutty-tasting flesh. It can be baked, boiled, microwaved, steamed, sautéed or fried. This squash adds sweet flavor and texture to stir-fries. Its seed cavity is ideal for stuffing.

Nutrition

Red kuri squash is a good source of fiber. It also provides

vitamin A Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin and an essential nutrient for humans. It is a group of organic compounds that includes retinol, retinal (also known as retinaldehyde), retinoic acid, and several provitamin A carotenoids (most notably ...

and

vitamin C Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid and ascorbate) is a water-soluble vitamin found in citrus and other fruits and vegetables, also sold as a dietary supplement and as a topical 'serum' ingredient to treat melasma (dark pigment spots) ...

, some of the

B vitamins B vitamins are a class of water-soluble vitamins that play important roles in cell metabolism and synthesis of red blood cells. Though these vitamins share similar names (B1, B2, B3, etc.), they are chemically distinct compounds that often coexi ...

calcium Calcium is a chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer when exposed to air. Its physical and chemical properties are most similar t ...

potassium Potassium is the chemical element with the symbol K (from Neo-Latin ''kalium'') and atomic number19. Potassium is a silvery-white metal that is soft enough to be cut with a knife with little force. Potassium metal reacts rapidly with atmosph ...

iron Iron () is a chemical element with Symbol (chemistry), symbol Fe (from la, Wikt:ferrum, ferrum) and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 element, group 8 of the periodic table. It is, Abundanc ...

, riboflavin and

thiamine Thiamine, also known as thiamin and vitamin B1, is a vitamin, an essential micronutrient, that cannot be made in the body. It is found in food and commercially synthesized to be a dietary supplement or medication. Phosphorylated forms of thi ...

. Low in calories and

sodium Sodium is a chemical element with the symbol Na (from Latin ''natrium'') and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal. Sodium is an alkali metal, being in group 1 of the periodic table. Its only stable ...

, this deep-colored squash also contains beta-carotene.Hard Red Kuri Squash
/ref> Nutrition facts : Nutrition Facts (1 cup cooked, cubes): : Calories: 79.95 : Protein: 1.82 grams : Carbohydrate: 17.94 grams : Dietary Fiber: 5.74 grams : Calcium: 28.7 mg : Iron: 0.67 mg : Potassium: 895.85 mg : Folate: 57.40 mcg : Vitamin: A 7,291.85

References

{{Squashes and pumpkins Squashes and pumpkins