Kabocha pumpkin

Right: Akagawa kuri kabocha (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne "Red Kuri")
Left: Kurokawa kuri kabocha (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne)

Most kabocha grown and distributed today in Japan are improved varieties of kuri kabocha [lit. chestnut pumpkin] or seiyo kabocha [lit. Western pumpkin, Cucurbita maxima Duchesne], which were introduced to Japan in the late 19th century. The less commonly distributed nihon kabocha [lit. Japanese pumpkin, Cucurbita moschata Duchesne] arrived in Japan on a Portuguese ship via Cambodia and has deep grooves on its skin, as seen with the representative kiku kabocha [lit. chrysanthemum pumpkin] variety. Cambodia is said to be where the vegetable's Japanese name "kabocha" comes from. As a side note, kiku/nihon kabocha's true origin is Mexico, whereas kuri kabocha's roots are in Peru -- just two more examples of vegetables crisscrossing the globe.

Among all sorts of varieties, the one with glossy dark green skin (kurokawa kuri kabocha, lit. black skin chestnut pumpkin) is typically associated when people hear "kabocha" in Japan. Both dark and orange skin kabocha are very starchy and sweet. In the US, however, quite a few dark skin kabocha sold at neighborhood markets or chain grocery stores are not quite as starchy or sweet as widely available varieties in Japan or some other countries, and I sometimes find butternut squash is a better choice. If you find kabocha from your local store rather watery and bland, try an Asian grocery store. In particular, the orange variety, increasingly common in the US recently, seems to have consistent sweetness. Thinner skin is another advantage of the orange variety.

One of the popular orange varieties often I see here appears to be Utsugi akagawa amaguri kabocha [lit. Utsugi's red skin sweet chestnut pumpkin], a traditional Kaga vegetable from Utsugi area of Kanazawa City in Ishikawa Prefecture (Kaga is the prefecture's old name) or a strain of this type. If so, it is usually incorrectly labeled as Uchiki, probably because of the region-specific reading of the Chinese characters (打木) for the town name.

Kabocha with yellowish orange flesh is often cited as a representative vegetable rich in carotene, Vitamin B and Vitamin C. It is also rich in Vitamin E as well as potassium and fiber. Kuri/seiyo kabocha is nutritionally superior, especially in terms of β-carotene (4000 μg/100 g edible part, which is as high as spinach, vs. 730 μg for kiku/nihon kabocha) and Vitamin C (32 mg/100 g vs. 16 mg for kiku/nihon kabocha). Carotene (both β and α) and Vitamins C and E prevent cell damage from active oxygen and carcinogenic substances. Some carotene changes into Vitamin A in the body, which strengthens skin and mucus and protects respiratory organs, in turn improving resistance against infectious diseases in combination with Vitamin C -- hence some scientific grounds for the seasonal custom of eating kabocha on winter solstice to prevent colds. Vitamin E improves blood circulation and helps ease sensitivity to cold. Potassium lets the body get rid of excess sodium, thus helping to control high blood pressure.

Kuri/seiyo kabocha (raw): 91 kcal/100 g; 76.2% water, 1.9% protein, 0.3% fat, 21.3% carbohydrate, 1.1% ash
Kiku/nihon kabocha (raw): 49 kcal/100 g; 86.7% water, 1.6% protein, 0.1% fat, 10.9% carbohydrate, 0.7% ash


Recipes with kabocha

• Okara to kinoko-iri kabocha no korokke / pumpkin croquettes with soybean pulp and mushrooms 
• Kabocha to shimeji no misoshiru / miso soup with kabocha pumpkin and shimeji mushrooms
• Sake no chanchanyaki / salmon and vegetable saute with miso sauce
• Arugula to kabocha no gomasoosu-gake / arugula and kabocha pumpkin with sesame sauce
• Sakana to yasai, kinoko no hoiruyaki, miso-fumi / grilled fish, vegetables and mushrooms in foil, miso flavor
• Kabocha no mafin, sumooku saamon to kuriimu chiizu iri / kabocha pumpkin muffins with smoked salmon and cream cheese
• Ebi to yasai no nanbanzubitashi / prawns and vegetables in spicy soy sauce vinegar marinade
• Mushi kabocha / steamed mashed kabocha pumpkin 
• Kabocha no nimono / kabocha pumpkin in broth

Try kabocha in the following recipes

• Ebi to zukkiini no ebimayo-fu / shrimp and zucchini in ebimayo-style sauce 
• Satsumaimo no tonyu kokonattsu purin / sweet potato and soy milk coconut pudding
• Konsai no sakekasu misoshiru / miso soup with root vegetables and sake lees
• Konsai no yooguruto misoshiru / root vegetable miso soup with yogurt
• Itokoni / root vegetables and azuki beans simmered in broth 
• Mushiyasai no karashi-gomazu-dare / steamed vegetables with mustard sesame vinegar sauce
• Satsumaimo to shungiku no gomaae / Japanese sweet potato and garland chrysanthemum in sesame dressing 
• Konsai to ebi no kakiage / julienned root vegetable tempura with prawns
• Baanya kauda / bagna cauda
• Konsai no gomani / root vegetables in sesame-flavored broth
• Rutabaga, eringi, asupara no guriru, nanbanzu-an / roasted rutabagas, king oyster mushrooms and asparagus with spicy sweet and sour sauce  

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