Yellow Eight Ball Squash
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Yellow eight ball squashes vary in size from small to large, averaging 5 to 12 centimeters in diameter, and have a spherical to oval shape, capped with a short, green stem. The bright yellow skin is smooth, glossy, and thin, sometimes dotted with brown markings. The flesh may also bear a dark green spot, known as a star, on the blossom, non-stem end of the squash. Underneath the surface, the flesh is white, crisp, and spongy, encasing many small and edible, ivory seeds. Yellow eight ball squashes have a tender consistency when fresh or cooked and have a sweet flavor with mild, nutty, and subtle vegetal notes.
Seasons/Availability
Yellow eight ball squashes are available year-round, with a peak season in the summer.
Current Facts
Yellow eight ball squashes, botanically classified as Cucurbita pepo, are a hybrid, summer squash belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. The round squash was named after the one ball in the game of pool, which is also yellow, and is a part of a larger line of ball squashes created by Hollar Seeds in the late 20th century. Yellow eight ball squashes are sometimes known as One Ball squashes and are a specialty variety primarily found at farmer’s markets. The cultivar was created to add diversity to summer squash varieties and is a novel squash often used in culinary dishes as an edible, serving vessel.
Nutritional Value
Yellow eight ball squashes are an excellent source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that can help boost the immune system, increase collagen production within the skin, and reduce inflammation. The squashes are also a good source of fiber, which can regulate the digestive tract and provide lower amounts of potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin A, magnesium, folate, and phosphorus.
Applications
Yellow eight ball squashes are widely versatile, used as a substitute for gold bar squash, yellow crookneck, or even classic zucchini in many recipes. When young, the round squashes can be chopped and added to green salads, or they can be sliced and mixed with fresh vegetables and herbs as a crisp side dish. They can also be grilled whole, depending on their size, or roasted to develop richer flavor profiles. More mature Yellow eight ball squashes are ideal for hollowing, stuffing, and baking. Many cuisines worldwide use peppers for stuffing grains, meats, and vegetables, and Yellow eight ball squashes can be used as a substitute for peppers as an edible vessel. Yellow eight ball squashes can also be sliced thin and layered into tarts, casseroles, or ratatouille. Yellow eight ball squashes pair well with corn, tomato, fresh herbs such as basil, oregano, mint, and cilantro, eggplant, meats such a sausage, ground turkey, and ground beef, nuts such as almonds, pine, and walnuts, and cheeses such as parmesan, feta, and mozzarella. Whole Yellow eight ball squashes will keep up to one week when stored unwashed, in a plastic bag, in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
In Hayward, California, Yellow eight ball squashes are often featured in savory dishes sold during the Hayward Zucchini Festival. The annual event has been held for over thirty-seven years, and despite its zucchini name, the weekend is a celebration of the many different types of summer squash along with a celebration of the arts. During the festival, vendors utilize summer squash in a wide variety of applications from main dishes, barbecued preparations, to baked goods, and attendees can enjoy their squash-centric meals while listening to live music. There is also a contest to exhibit the strangest shaped squashes that were grown naturally in home gardens among the Hayward community.
Geography/History
Yellow eight ball squashes are a hybrid variety developed by Hollar Seeds of Rocky Ford, Colorado. In the mid-20th century, Larry Hollar, President of Hollar Seeds, spent four years collecting seeds of round squashes from around the world, and using these seeds, he conducted purposeful, potential crosses until the eight ball squash was created. The dark-green variety was released to commercial markets in 1999, and with its widespread success, Hollar Seeds expanded its ball squash line to include the Yellow eight ball, also known as the One ball squash. Today, Yellow eight ball squashes are available through specialty grocers and farmer’s markets across the United States and in select regions of Europe. The cultivar is also a favored home garden variety grown around the world.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Yellow Eight Ball Squash. One
is easiest, three is harder.
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