Know Your Squash: Types, Varieties, and Cooking Ideas

At Cookpad, we love celebrating seasonal cooking—and squash is one ingredient that deserves the spotlight. But what makes it so special? Let’s explore its varieties, uses, and some delicious cooking ideas.

Is Squash a Fruit or a Vegetable?

Although it’s often cooked as a vegetable, squash is botanically a fruit because it develops from the flower of the plant and contains seeds. This makes it both versatile and surprising in the kitchen.

Know your squash

Types of Squash

Summer Squash

Harvested while young and tender, with edible skin and a shorter shelf life. Best enjoyed fresh.

Zucchini (courgette) – mild and moist, perfect for stir-fries, salads, or even cakes. Recipe idea: Zucchini cake or grilled zucchini salad.

Healthy courgette saladcourgette, Pumpkin and sunflower seeds, balsamic vineger, tea spoon Dijon mustard, olive oil

Zucchini cheese bread⏱ 1 hour 10 minutes · 📸 2zucchini, shredded (do not squeeze), green onion, sliced, large eggs, sour cream, unsalted butter, melted and cooled

Pattypan squash – small and round, ideal for sautéing or stuffing. Recipe idea: Stuffed pattypan with herbs and cheese.

Stuffed patty pan⏱ 1 hourpatty pan squash, refried beans, cheese, epazote, frozen sweetcorn

Chayote – pear-shaped, crisp and slightly sweet. Recipe idea: Chayote stir-fry with shrimp.

Spicy Shrimp Chayote Squash Stir Frychayote squash, julienned, vegetable oil, shallots, thinly sliced, garlic, thinly sliced, shrimp, peeled and deveined

Round zucchini – same flavour as regular zucchini but fun in shape. Recipe idea: Baked stuffed round zucchini.

Stuffed Round Zucchini⏱ 45 mins + prepsmall red onions, finely chopped, small red bell peppers, finely chopped, small round zucchini, garlic, minced, button mushrooms, diced

Winter Squash

Harvested when fully mature with harder skin and a long storage life.

Butternut squash – sweet and nutty, popular for soups and roasting. Recipe idea: Butternut squash soup with thyme.

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup⏱ 4-6 hoursonion, garlic cloves, vegetable stock, carrot peeled and chopped, Granny Smith apple chopped

Pumpkin – earthy and sweet, a classic for pies, soups, and pasta. Recipe idea: Pumpkin rigatoni with sage and walnuts.

Pumpkin Rigatoni with Walnuts and Crispy Sagerigatoni (uncooked), garlic (thinly sliced or minced), pumpkin puree (canned), double cream, walnuts (roasted, chopped)

Acorn squash – mild and nutty, best roasted. Recipe idea: Roasted acorn squash halves with honey drizzle.

Roasted Acorn Squash with Sausage, Farro, Spinach, and Feta⏱ 45 minssmall acorn squash, light olive oil, butter, divided into 4, farro or wheat berries, water

Delicata squash – rich and sweet, like sweet potato. 💡 Recipe idea: Roasted delicata with herbs.

Slow herby squash and beans - vegan📸 1Use a pan that can be used on the stove top and in the oven and that has a lid, olive oil, onion squash, halved... then scoop the seeds out and cut into wedges (around 2cm thick) - delicata squash also works; butternut probably will too, onions, cut into wedges, Black pepper

Kabocha – starchy and sweet, great in soups or tempura. Recipe idea: Kabocha squash curry.

Vegan Kabocha Squash & Lentil CurryKabocha squash, Lentils, Clean water, Japanese dashi powder, Curry powder (a ratio of 3 parts coriander to 2 parts cumin to 1 part turmeric and cinnamon)

Spaghetti squash – unique stringy texture that mimics noodles. Recipe idea: Spaghetti squash with marinara sauce.

Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Turkey Zucchini Marinara⏱ 60 minsspaghetti squash, zucchini green, tomato sauce cans, tomatoes diced, ground turkey

Summer vs Winter Squash: What’s the Difference?

Summer squash: tender skin, shorter shelf life, best eaten fresh.
Winter squash: tough skin, long shelf life, harvested in autumn.

This distinction helps you decide how to store and cook them.

Cook Every Part of Squash: Is It All Edible?

Yes! From the skin to the seeds, squash is 100% edible (except the stalk).

Seeds – roast with spices for a crunchy snack.
Skin – edible when cooked until tender.
Flesh – versatile for sweet and savoury dishes.

Nothing goes to waste when you get creative.

Squash is truly a cook’s best friend: nutritious, adaptable, and available in so many varieties. Whether you’re baking, roasting, or experimenting with spaghetti squash as a pasta alternative, there’s always a new flavour to discover.