Zero – Waste Utilization of Squash (kalabasa)

LUZ R. MARCELINO Chief, Science Research Specialist

ARLENE DE ASIS Head, Food Laboratory

Department of Agriculture, RFO 5

Bicol Integrated Agricultural Research Center

What is a kalabasa?

– Squash or Pumpkin in English (kalabasa puti and pula in Tagalog, kalbasang puti and puwa in Cebuano) in other words ‘’the red and white squash or pumpkins’’ are in the same family of watermelons and cucumber. - is a vegetable that is cultivated throughout the

whole Philippines. - It can be cooked with or without the skin. - The colour of the skin can vary from green to

yellow. - The colour of the flesh is a deep yellowy-orange. - The taste is (soft) sweet.

Abundant and grown in the Philippines all-throughout the year, thrives well in tropical climate. The increasing demand, makes farmers produce squash in Philippines for commercial sale.

Squash is an excellent source of beta-carotene which is vitamin A and high source of vitamin C, B, calcium and iron.

squash flowers contain ‘’lutein’’ that prevents cataract.

Health Benefit of squash

Ways to enjoy a squash dish (traditional way)

served soup in cafes, restaurants etc. Great for cooking like ‘’ginisang kalabasa’’ (stir-fried squash with various

vegetables) with lean pork cut into cubes. Ginataang kalabasa mashed-potato-squash dish

Concept of Zero waste Utilization

Zero Waste means designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid

and eliminate the volume of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources.”

Through the concept of zero waste and the increasing number of squash farmers in the region, DA – RFO 5 (BIARC) set a goal to fully

maximize the utilization of Squash

Squash

Peel Flesh Seeds Pulp

Halaya

Dehydrated

Flour

Bakery Products

Raw Flesh

Snack Foods and viand

or condiments

Dessert

Roasted Jam

Candies

Some of the mouth watering squash recipes developed in the station….

Ingredients: 1 cup steamed squash 3 pcs egg yolk 1 cup sugar 4 – 5 cups flour ¼ cup evaporated milk 1 tsp vanilla 4 tbsp. margarine 1 tbsp. baking powder Procedure: 1. Cream butter until soft 2. Add sugar alternately with the eggs 3. Add milk, vanilla and squash 4. Mix well 5. Add flor and baking powder 6. knead slightly 7. Sprinkle a little flour on board 8. Pour mixture and flatten with the use of a rolling pin 9. Cut through a donut cutter 10. Fry until golden brown 11. Drain 12. Dip in sugar, if desired

Squash Doughnut

Squash Noodles Ingredients: 4-5 cups all purpose flour 1 cup squash (steamed then mash) 2 tbsp. fish sauce or patis 3 tbsp. baking powder 2 tbsp. cooking oil ½ tsp vetsin 1 pc egg 2 tbsp. lye Procedure: 1. Mix all dry ingredients (flour, baking powder and vetsin) 2. Beat eggs 3. Mix with fish sauce, oil and lye 4. Mix dry and liquid ingredients 5. Knead flour into a smooth and even mass 6. Roll the kneader cutter unto the dough until it becomes 0.8 mm thick. If kneader cutter is not

available, bottle and knife can be used. 7. Sprinkle both sides of dough with flour to avoid sticking to the kneader or bottle 8. Cut into strips 9. Put the strips in a strainer 10. Put in boiling water for a few seconds until the strips float 11. Immediately remove the strainer from the pan 12. Wash with tap water 13. Drain 14. Pour oil in pan. Heat to boil. 15. Fry strips until bubbling stop 16. Cool noodles on a piece of cheese cloth 17. Pack in a plastic bag.

Ingredients: 2 cups ordinary rice flour ½ cup glutinous rice flour 2 cups squash 1 ½ cup sugar ¼ cup fresh butter ½ tsp anise Filling: 2 cups mashed squash 1 cup raw pili 1 small can condensed milk Procedure: 1. Mix dry ingredients 2. Cream butter until soft 3. Add sugar gradually 4. Add mashed squash and flour mixture 5. Mix until well blended 6. Spread ½ cup of the mixture on banana leaves 7. Put filling over the mixture 8. Roll and tie on both ends 9. Steam for 45 minutes 10. Cool

Rice Squash Roll

Ingredients: 1 can condensed milk 4 pcs egg 1 tsp vanilla 2 cups squash (steamed then mash) sugar to taste Procedure: 1. Caramelize sugar in molder 2. Beat eggs slightly 3. Strain 4. Add sugar, milk and vanilla 5. Stir until dissolved 6. Add squashed and mix thoroughly 7. Pour in molder 8. Arrange in steamer 9. Steam 10. Insert toothpick at center. If t comes out clean, mixture is done 11. Cool 12. Remove from molder 13. Chill before serving

Squash Leche Flan

Ingredients: 4 cups squash 1 ½ cups vinegar 2 cups sugar 1 tsp cinnamon ½ tsp white pepper ½ tsp black pepper 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tbsp. salt ¼ tsp catsup red Procedure: 1. Wash squash 2. Slice, peel and remove seeds 3. Steam 4. Mash 5. Add the rest of the ingredients 6. Blend 7. Put in a carajay and let boil 8. Cook to the consistency of catsup 9. Pour while hot in sterilized bottles 10. Half – seal bottle 11. Pasteurize in boiling water for 15 – 20 minutes 12. Seal 13. Cool bottle 14. Label 15. Store

Squash Catsup

Ingredients: 2 cups squash cube (boiled) 2 cups camote cube (boiled) 1 cup carrots cube (boiled) 1 pc apple cube ½ cup toasted peanut 1 stalk celery – diced 1 pc bell pepper ½ cup raisin sugar to taste ½ box cheese, diced 1 cup mayonnaise Procedure: 1. Mix all the ingredients until well blended. 2. Chill and serve

Squash Medley

Ingredients: 2 cups squash peeled (boiled, mashed) ½ cup sugar 1 cup powdered milk 1 tsp vanilla 2 tbsp. butter or margarine Procedure: 1. Mix all the ingredients together. 2. Cook over moderate heat until thick 3. Mold 4. Cool and serve

Squash Halaya

Ingredients: 2 cups squash seeds 1 tbsp. garlic powder 1 tbsp. salt 4 cups water Procedure: 1. Soak squash seeds in brine solution for 5 – 10

minutes 2. Drain, bake until crisp 3. Cool and pack

Squash Seeds Crunch

Ingredients: 2 cups steamed squash, mashed 2 cups cornstarch 7 cups coconut milk 2 cups sugar 1 tsp vanilla 1 can sweet corn 1 can evaporated milk Procedure: 1. Dissolve cornstarch in coconut milk. 2. Add remaining ingredients 3. Cook until thick 4. Spread on greased baking pan or molder 5. Cool

Squash Maja Blanca

Ingredients: ¼ tasang pulang asukal 1 tasang tubig ¾ tasang arina, sinala 1 tasang kalabasa, nilaga at dinurog 1 kutsaritaing lihiya Procedure: 1. Tunawin ang asukal sa tubig at pakuluan 2. Matapos palamigin, dahan dahang ihalo ang arina rito 3. Ilagay ang dinurog na kalabasa at haluing mabuti hanggang

maging makinis ang solusyon 4. Salain ang pinaghalong kalabasa at arina 5. Ihalo ang lihiya 6. Lagyan ng pinaghalong mga sangkap ang 2/3 na bahagi ng

muffin pan at pasingawan hanggang 20 minuto.

Kutsintang Kalabasa

Ingredients: 1 cup grated squash 1 pc onion chopped 1 tbsp. garlic, chopped 1 tsp. black pepper 1 pc egg ¼ cup flour salt to taste oil for frying Procedure: 1. Combine all the ingredients together. 2. Form into balls or patties, fry until golden brown 3. Serve.

Squash Croquettes

Indeed, squash look good and are good for us!

They can be prepared and served in many different ways…..

It would be a sad waste of opportunity not to utilize them fully.