Jack Be Little squash
Season
- Peak season
- Available
- Not available
Did you know?
Jack Be Little squash comes straight from the United States, where it is often used as a decorative item over Halloween. Its American name refers to Jack O’Lantern, the famous hollowed out pumpkin lit from inside with a candle, forming a grimacing face.
Jack Be Little, also known as ‘Pomarine’, is a small squash with orange skin and yellow-orange flesh which is mild and firm. It has a slightly floury texture, with notes of nuts and chestnuts, and is appreciated for its mild, sweet flavour.
Jack Be Little are grown in open fields and harvested by hand by Prince de Bretagne’s market gardeners. They let them dry and finish ripening in the field. After a week, they are packed carefully in wooden crates. Jack Be Little squash are stored directly on the farm and then sold in the months following harvest.
Cooking tips
HOW TO CHOOSE JACK BE LITTLE SQUASH
Jack Be Little should be firm and heavy, and there should be no cracks in the skin. The stalk must be green in colour.
HOW TO PREPARE JACK BE LITTLE
The skin of Jack Be Little squash is really good! This means you can choose not to peel it, in which case just give it a good rinse.
Alternatively, peel the skin with a knife or peeler. Then, depending on your recipe, you can dice it or hollow it out for stuffing.
Set the seeds aside! You can then grill them to add a touch of crunch to your breakfast muesli or salads.
HOW TO COOK JACK BE LITTLE
Jack Be Little squash are always eaten cooked. You can cook them before stuffing but, equally, stuff them and then cook them!
10 to 15 mins
Steam cooking
40 mins
In the oven
20 mins
In boiling water
This mini-pumpkin with orange-yellow flesh and a chestnut flavour will add a slightly sweet touch to your plates.
Cooking suggestions
Jack Be Little squash are very easy to cook and lend themselves to many different recipes:
They are brilliant for stuffing in individual portions: they will be a real sensation for dinner parties!
Precooked diced Jack Be Little can also be used to decorate a salad, used in risotto, pasta, quiche, pizza and gratin dishes or be blended to make a soup or puree etc.
Chef’s tip
Idea: You can keep it as a decoration until Halloween and then cook it!
