ACORN SQUASH	VEGETABLES - KNOW YOUR VEG

A small, round, heavily ridged winter squash, which usually has a dark shiny green skin. Orange-skinned acorn squash can also be found but they are not so widely available. Acorn squash flesh is a distinctive bright orange colour and it has a deliciously rich, sweet chestnut flavour. Each squash is an ideal size for one person when stuffed and baked. Buy squash that feel heavy for their size and have hard, thick skin.

How To Use Acorn Squash

Acorn squash can be baked whole and filled with a variety of tasty savoury fillings including cooked rice and chopped peppers, diced cooked chicken or ham in a cheese sauce or goat's cheese mixed with pine nuts and pesto. Cooked acorn squash can be included in soups, stews, pasta sauces and stuffings.

How To Prepare Acorn Squash

To bake, wash thoroughly and prick with a fork. To cook chopped acorn squash, wash and peel, halve and scoop out the seeds and any fibrous pulp with a spoon, then chop into even-sized chunks.

How To Cook Acorn Squash

Acorn squash are delicious baked. To bake, preheat the oven to 190°C, gas mark 5, place the whole squash in an ovenproof dish and cook for 40 - 50 minutes or until tender. To stuff, slice off the top of the squash before cooking, scoop out the seeds and pulp and fill with your chosen filling, cook as before.

How To Store Acorn Squash

Keep acorn squash in a cool, dry place for up to 1 month.

The information and images for this article have come from www.thinkvegetables.co.uk. It provides full information on all the main vegetables available on the UK market including nutritional information and delicious recipes. The site is a service provided by Mack Vegetables, one of the largest and most successful suppliers of fresh vegetables in the UK, serving a wide range of customers from caterers to major multiples. You can find out more about Mack by visiting the website at www.mwmack.co.uk