Squashini®
Estimated Inventory, 1 Lb : 0
This item was last sold on : 04/01/26
Description/Taste
Squashini® is typically small, averaging 12 to 15 centimeters in length, and is marketed as a squash that fits in the palm of the hand. Each squash showcases a uniform, elongated, straight, and cylindrical shape with blunt, curved ends. Squashini® has thin, smooth, and tender skin that does not need to be peeled before consumption. The skin exhibits variegated hues of light green with faint dark green striping and is taut, firm, and glossy. Underneath the surface, the pale yellow to ivory flesh is dense and aqueous with a crunchy, snappy consistency when raw. The flesh is also interspersed with tiny, flat, underdeveloped seeds that are edible and unnoticeable in dishes. Squashini® holds its shape well when heated and develops a tender, soft, and crisp texture when cooked. The squashes are edible raw and emit a fresh, faint aroma when sliced. Squashini® is mild, sweet, and vegetal with green, subtly nutty nuances.
Seasons/Availability
Squashini® is available in the spring and summer.
Current Facts
Squashini®, botanically classified as Cucurbita moschata, is a specialty squash grown by Girl & Dug Farm, belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. The petite squash is grown in a bag and harvested young, and is favored by chefs and home cooks for its distinct texture, size, and flavor. Squashini® is a type of Korean squash grown using innovative techniques to produce squashes that can be used in sweet and savory dishes. The Southern California-based farm notes on its website that it uses a patented bag that “compresses a football-sized squash into the palm of the hand.” This technique concentrates the flavor, encourages the squash to maintain thin, tender skin, and makes the flesh pleasingly dense. Squashini® is sold in the bag it is cultivated in, and chefs and home cooks seek it out for its consistent size, shape, and flavor, making it a choice ingredient served raw or cooked in a wide array of culinary preparations.
Nutritional Value
Squashini® has not been extensively studied for its nutritional properties. Squashes, in general, are a source of fiber to aid digestion and contain vitamins A, B, and C to support healthy organs, boost energy production, and strengthen the immune system. Squashes also provide varying amounts of minerals, depending on the specific variety, including iron, calcium, zinc, copper, magnesium, manganese, and potassium. These minerals help the body produce the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the bloodstream, maintain fluids, build red blood cells, and support bone and tooth development.
Applications
Squashini® has a mild, sweet, and vegetal flavor suited for fresh and cooked preparations. It is distinct from other squash types, as it has a more complex, pronounced taste and a dense yet tender nature, allowing it to be used without peeling. Squashini® is added raw to salads, made into ribbons and tossed in dressings and fresh herbs, or diced in various side dishes. The squash can be pickled as a tangy condiment, added to pesto-based dishes, or incorporated into crudo as a sweet, refreshing addition. A notable characteristic of Squashini® is its ability to retain its shape and crisp texture when heated, and it requires only minimal cooking time. Squashini® is also popularly pan-fried, grilled, roasted, sauteed, or simmered in soups and stews. The squash can be added to pasta, served with meat main dishes, fried into fritters, or mixed into rice and noodle dishes. It can also be used similarly to zucchini and summer squash in recipes, including tartlets, bread, cakes, and muffins. Squashini® pairs well with flavorings like soy sauce, sesame oil, mirin, gochjang, gochugaru, and lemon juice, herbs such as mint, cilantro, or purslane, and spring ingredients like fava beans, pears, radishes, and nasturtiums. Fresh Squashini® should be immediately used for the best quality and flavor, and will keep for a few days to a week when stored in the refrigerator’s crisper drawer.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Squashini® is derived from a type of Korean squash. In Korea, these squashes are often called aehobak, a broad term which means “young squash.” Aehobak is a favored seasonal ingredient during the spring and summer, and there are several varieties collectively sold under this name. In Korean cuisine, aehobak is often prepared as a side dish and is well-known for its use in hobak bokkeum, or stir-fried squash, traditionally tossed in saeujeot, salted and fermented tiny shrimp. Aehobak is also used in aehobak jeon, which is squash slices dipped in flour and egg as a batter and pan-fried to develop a crisp exterior. Aehobak is used in many recipes for its sweet, mild flavor and is even used to make a variation of kimchi. The squashes are predominantly grown in specially designed bags throughout Korea to develop a consistent size, flavor, and shape, and to maintain a pristine appearance, as the bags protect against cultivation and transportation damage.
Geography/History
Squashini® is exclusive to Girl & Dug Farm, a business based in San Marcos, California. The story of Girl & Dug began in 2005 when the Choi family, led by Brian and Agnes Choi, purchased an 8-acre farm in San Marcos and began a wholesale business cultivating Korean vegetables called “Lucky Growers.” Before purchasing the farm, the family ran a flower business in the Los Angeles area. Several years later, beginning in 2009, Aaron Choi, son of Brian and Agnes, had the idea to create a specialty business that grows flavor-focused ingredients for chefs and home cooks. Girl & Dug Farm eventually came into being on the same property, and the farm produces unique, edible ingredients for consumers and restaurants across the United States. Today, Squashini® is one of several innovations from Girl & Dug Farm and is available through select partners, including Specialty Produce. It is also frequently featured on menus in restaurants nationwide.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Animae | San Diego CA | 619-925-7908 |
| Herb & Wood | San Diego CA | 520-205-1288 |
Squashini® for sale around the world shared on the Specialty Produce App
