Squash or Pumpkin Flower
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
Calgary, Alberta
February 7, 2012 11:26pm CST
This is a vegetable is not widely known around the world but its a part of then Latino cuisine and in case of Phillipine cuisine, only 2 dishes uses it. Its one of the vegetables I love to eat. Mexicans mix this in tacos and Quesadillas. I think American farmers dont really harvest this vegetable cos if they will plant squashes and pumpkins, they rather let the flowers turn into pumpkins and squashes, since there is more money with them than the flowers, Male flowers though dont turn into squashes,
Its a vegetable that I liked for its texture. It doesnt really have a taste but its texture makes it delicious.
These flowers can be used in many dishes, Its a stir fry vegetable, it can be mixed in soups. I dont know though if it can be eaten raw. most recipes for pumpkin flowers are stir fries.
2 people like this
6 responses
@kyle2krystel (2489)
• Japan
8 Feb 12
Hello CAW, I didn't know that pumpkin flower can be cook and serve as dish wow thats cool. I only know few recipes on how to cook squash but didnt know that flower can be eaten too.
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
8 Feb 12
Its usually popular to latinos, But I think there is a pasta dish using it, In some cultures, they stuff the flowers with ground meat then fry it, There are so many vegetables around the world waiting to be tasted. If I have money to travel the world, I'll try them all
@kyle2krystel (2489)
• Japan
8 Feb 12
Oh that's cool, I just learn something again and thank you for making that discussion. I am now curious where to find pumpkins flowers so I can try em out
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
9 Feb 12
you are in Japan, I dont know if its marketed there... Most people who eats these have their own garden. They harvest the male flowers and let the female flowers turned into fruits. The male flowers wont turn into pumpkins so they have to harvest it.
@asdomencil (4265)
• Philippines
9 Feb 12
Yes squash flowers are used here in the Philippines especially the Ilocanos. They used it in many dishes like pinakbet or bulanglang. I love this flower especially if it is freshly harvested in the morning then cook it right away. This will have a sweeter taste compared to those harvested already for a day or two.
I remember in my grandmother's backyard, when I was still in my childhood days, they have several veggies in their backyard and one of those were squash. I used to harvest the flowers and sell it in our neighborhood.
In addition, there are two types of flowers for these veggie, the female anf the male flower. Female flowers are those having a small fruit of squash below, just above the stalk, while male flowers are those that doest have any fruit on it. We used to harvest those male flowers and cook it while the female flowers were left in the garden and let it developed into a full grown squash.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
9 Feb 12
I will be thinking about it, planning to grow some pumpkins and maybe squash as well. This just gives me more ideas about the crop. I will pick male flowers. I do remember how the female ones look.
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
9 Feb 12
if you love mexican food or texmex food , you cans search some recipes for the flowers.they were really good.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
9 Feb 12
harvesting the male flowers, will help the female flowers grow faster, so yeah people should not hesitate harvesting the guys,. Aside from pinakbet and Bulanglang, It works with dinengdeng.1 day I experimented and mixed it in chopsuey, it actually worked. you can also stir fry it by it self. Just like eggplant, you can also use it for making torta.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
8 Feb 12
I think I have heard of dipping them in batter and frying them. Also dandelion flowers. I think it might be good.
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
9 Feb 12
if you have a garden, Its one of the tings you can look forward, I mean if you plant squash or pumpkin some flowers would be males. deep frying them while coated in batter is in deed delicious. You can even stuff it with cheese, before coating it in batter.
There are healthier ways of cooking it too.
@jaiho2009 (39140)
• Philippines
8 Feb 12
I came from the Northern part of Luzon -Ilocano's.
So, it's one of the common veggies in there.
I like it- but thought at first when I was kid it would be itchy once eaten due to it's white hairs (lols) (kids right?)
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
8 Feb 12
Filipinos use it ofr only 2 dishes, Pinakbet and dinengdeng, but it can actually be used in many dishes. if people were only inspired to experiment.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
8 Feb 12
Hi captain
Yes, the pumpkin flowers are great and can be fired and also eaten raw, though I dont have a liking for the raw thing. At home, we normally fry it up along with gram powder and other spices added to it. I once even tried to roast it out with a little butter on a iron plate that we use for other purposes (chapatis, you know) and it was good for a change. The sad part was that as this was the first time I experimented, it did get burnt at places
... barring that it was fine.
Yes, the pumpkin flowers are great and can be fired and also eaten raw, though I dont have a liking for the raw thing. At home, we normally fry it up along with gram powder and other spices added to it. I once even tried to roast it out with a little butter on a iron plate that we use for other purposes (chapatis, you know) and it was good for a change. The sad part was that as this was the first time I experimented, it did get burnt at places... barring that it was fine.1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
8 Feb 12
I didnt know they can be eaten raw, I might try that next time. I dont know how its going to taste like raw. I had tried it fried before and its good, I dont know but I like the texture of Pumpkin flowers cos it reminds me of meat. Its a very underrated vegetable.
Chapatis and mexican tortillas have lots of similarities, Pumpkin flowers works well with tortillas, so I wont be shocked if they can work well with chapatis too.
@lrdl3535 (149)
• United States
29 Jul 12
I've heard of people eating them several times before. I personally haven't had a chance to try them yet. The only way that I have heard that they were cooked was to batter and deep fry them. I grow squash, but like you said I want as much squash out of my plants that I can get. So I haven't picked any of the flowers.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
29 Jul 12
well usually people let the male flowers rot, The male flowers will never turn into squash or pumpkin.
