Calabaza (Pumpkin) in Sacks Costa Rica

Calabaza squash ranges in size from small like a cantaloupe to large like a watermelon and has a round to pear-like shape. Its exterior skin is hardened, often lined with large vertical ridges and when mature, its rind can be mottled green to yellow-orange and is often striped or splotched with varying shades of green. Calabaza squashes can also be one solid color or multi-colored depending on open pollination. The firm, yellow to orange flesh surrounds a large, central seed cavity with stringy pulp and many small, flat, and hard cream-colored seeds. Calabaza squash, when cooked, is smooth, fine-textured, and has a mild, sweet, and nutty flavor similar to butternut or acorn squash.