Butternut Squash vs Pumpkin: Have you been looking for unique and healthy winter recipes? If yes, chances are you have come across options made with butternut squash. Popular produce during the fall, butternut squash is used for various culinary experiments, courtesy of its comforting flavour, creamy texture, and rich, bright colour. What fascinates us the most is its resemblance to pumpkin, a common vegetable prevalent in different global recipes. This brings up the question: are butternut squash and pumpkin the same? In this article, we will break down the properties of both vegetables to understand which one is better for consumption. Let's get going.
Butternut Squash Vs Pumpkin: Is Butternut Squash Similar To Pumpkin?
To put it simply, both butternut squash and pumpkin are winter vegetables and share the same origin (Cucurbita species). Moreover, you can use them interchangeably in different recipes.
1. Similarities in flavours:
Both vegetables have sweet and nutty flavours. If roasted or baked, they add an earthy look and feel to every dish.
2. Similarities in texture:
Both vegetables are creamy and have a bright orange-yellow colour. Moreover, they easily turn soft and mushy when boiled or baked, making them suitable for various culinary uses.
3. Similarities in culinary use:
You can mash, roast, saute, and bake both vegetables to prepare a dish. In fact, pumpkin and butternut squash can easily be interchanged in any dish of your choice.
4. Similarities in storage condition:
Both winter vegetables can be stored for months in a cool, dry place. However, if you cut them, we suggest removing the seeds and storing them in the refrigerator. Why, you ask? It is because seeds spoil much quicker than the outer skin of the vegetables.
Also Read: World's Heaviest Pumpkin Weighs More Than 1200 Kilos, See Pics
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Butternut Squash Vs Pumpkin: What Are The Differences?
While we agree that both butternut squash and pumpkin have the same culinary outcome, if you delve in deep, there are some basic characteristics that differentiate one from the other.
1. Difference in shape and size:
While both vegetables are considered squash, pumpkin and butternut squash differ in shape and size. Pumpkin is round, whereas butternut squash has an oblong shape. Moreover, pumpkin weighs double when compared to butternut squash.
2. Difference in texture:
While both vegetables have a bright orange-ish colour, if you delve in deep, pumpkin is brighter and has a firmer outer skin compared to butternut squash. You can easily peel the outer skin of butternut squash with a peeler, but for a pumpkin, you need a sharper knife to cut the skin.
3. Difference in nutrition:
According to USDA data, pumpkin has a higher amount of vitamins A and B2, whereas butternut squash has a higher amount of vitamins B1, B6, C, and magnesium. However, both vegetables provide enough fibre, antioxidants, and carotenoids to the body.
4. Difference in availability:
While fresh pumpkin is generally available from mid-September through November, you can get cold-stored and canned pumpkin puree throughout the year. On the other hand, butternut squash is enjoyed the best during the winter.
Butternut Squash Vs Pumpkin: Which One Is Better?
Now that you have gone through the similarities and differences between butternut squash and pumpkin, it's time to choose the winner. If you ask us, we feel both vegetables are nutritious, versatile, and have their set of advantages, so we can declare no clear winner. Include both butternut squash and pumpkin in your everyday diet and enjoy the goodness to the fullest.
Also Read: A Superfood You Didn't Know Was So Good For You: Pumpkin
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Butternut Squash Soup Recipe: How To Make This Winter-Special Soup At Home?
As we mentioned earlier, butternut squash and pumpkin can be used interchangeably in various recipes. Here, we will introduce you to a simple butternut squash soup recipe that you can make by just replacing the pumpkin. You read that right.
In this butternut squash soup recipe, you need to first de-skin and de-seed the vegetables and then cut them into medium-sized cubes. Next, boil and blend them into a smooth paste. Alongside, add chillies, garlic, coriander leaves, salt, and pepper, and blend again.
Now, pour the mixture into a saucepan and cook well with some coconut milk. Serve hot. And if you find the texture of the soup turning too thick, add some lukewarm water to adjust the consistency. Click here for the detailed butternut squash soup recipe.
The Bonus Tip:
If you are looking for a variation of this classic butternut soup recipe, you can just cut the butternut squash into small cubes, drizzle some olive oil, salt, pepper, and herbs of your choice, and roast it on a pan or in a microwave oven. Then follow the simple process of a butternut soup recipe, and voila! You have an earthy, roasted butternut squash soup ready in no time.
So, what are you waiting for? Replace pumpkin with butternut squash in your winter recipes and add variation to your meal. Happy winter, everyone!