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Kabocha squash

Updated: Sep 29, 2020


Fúg-Tong | ฟักทอง| Cucurbita maxima

Family: Cucurbitaceae - Genus: Cucurbita

Squashl can be found at the vegetable gardens of the Thai Child Development Foundation around the paths and around the kitchen area of Eco-Logic Thailand on Mount Never-rest.

 

Kabocha squash can be found in the organic gardens of the Thai Child Development Foundation in Paksong, Thailand. It grows on a vine and the squash is hard on the outside with knobbly-looking skin. It is shaped like a pumpkin and has a dull-finished, deep-green skin with some white stripes and an intense yellow-orange color on the inside. An average kabocha weighs about 1 kilogram. In Paksong we refer to this squash as pumpkin mostly for our dishes at the restaurant. The squash, as well as the flowers and leaves are edible.


Kabocha squash can be harvested about 2 months after planting the seeds, from November to July in Paksong area.


 

The papaya is a small, sparsely branched tree, usually with a single stem growing from 5 to 10 meter tall, with spirally arranged leaves confined to the top of the trunk. The lower trunk is usually scarred where leaves and fruit were borne. All parts of the plant contain latex.
PLANT

KABOCHA SQUASH PLANT

Kabocha is a vining plant that climbs via tendrils and ut can grow 3 to 5 meter long. In Paksong we use old branches as support for the squash to grow up in the vergetable gardens of the Foundation. It is an annual plant. The above-ground parts are hairy. Spring-like tendrils grow from each node.

 

The leaves of the papaya are large, 50-70 cm in diameter, with seven lobes.
LEAVES

KABOCHA SQUASH LEAVES

Leaves simple, alternate, softly hairy, not harsh, long petiolate, leaf-blade broadly cordate to triangular, shallowly lobed.

The plant has five-lobed leaves, alternately arranged on the stem.

The leaves are edible.

 


The flowers are five-parted; the male flowers have the stamens fused to the petals. The female flowers have a superior ovary and five contorted petals loosely connected at the base. The flowers are sweet-scented, open at night, and wind- or insect-pollinated.
FLOWER

KABOCHA SQUASH FLOWERS


There are male and female flowers on a single plant. Flowers have five fused yellow to orange petals and a green bell-shaped calyx.


The flowers are edible.

 
The fruit is a large berry that is generally spherical or cylinder in form and about 15–45 centimeter  long and 10–30 centimeter in diameter. The fruit grows on the stem of the tree.
Fruit

KABOCHA SQUASH

Kabocha fruits are classified as a pepo (a special type of berry, with a thick outer wall or rind, and a fleshy interior). It grows on a vine and the squash is hard on the outside with knobbly-looking skin. It is shaped like a pumpkin and has a dull-finished, deep-green skin with some white stripes and an intense yellow-orange color on the inside. An average kabocha squash weighs about 1 kilogram.

The flesh is yellow-orang and the seeds are large and fairly flat.

 


CULINARY USES OF KABOCHA SQUASH

Kabocha has an exceptional sweet flavor. It is said to be similar in texture and flavor to a pumpkin and sweet potato combined.

The rind is edible, as well as the flesh, the seeds, the leaves and the flowers.


Kabocha is used for curries, side dishes and desserts in Thailand. It can be baked, roasted, steamed and stifried.

The leaves from squash and pumpkin plants are not only edible, but they are absolutely delicious and highly nutritious.


NUTRITION

100 gram of Kabocha squash contains:

  • water 85-91 gram

  • P\protein 0.8-2.0 gram

  • Fat 0.1-0.5 gram

  • Carbohydrates 3.3-11.0 gram

  • Vitamin A 340-7800 IU

  • Vitamin B1 0.07-0.14 milligram

  • Vitamin B2 0.01-0.04 milligram

  • Niacin 0.5-1.2 milligram

  • Vitamin C 6-21 milligram

  • Calcium 14-48 milligram

  • Iron 70 milligram

  • Phosporus 21-38 milligram

  • Magnesium 16-34 milligram

 

TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USE OF KABOCHA SQUASH


NOTE: please take advice from a doctor if you are planning to use herbal medicine.


The kabocha squash can be used internally or external in traditional medical use.


Internal

  • Pumpkin seeds can expel worms and increase urination. R

  • The seeds are said to prevent formation of kidney stones.

  • The orange flesh is nourishing to the tissues, is high in beta-carotene, and is said to help prevent cancer.

  • It also nourishes eyesight.

  • The root treats cough and toxins.


External

  • Pumpkin flesh soothes inflammation and contusions.


 

INTO THE WILD: a down to earth experience

For guests and visitors to Paksong we organize weekly tours "The Edible Forest" and Foraging weekends: Into the Wild. We work with local guides to take you in the jungle of Paksong. After foraging, we will cook a meal with the ingredients, using bamboo together with you!


Come and join and learn about the abundance of food that nature gives us!


INTO THE WILD!

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