Often recommended for keeping your eyes healthy, squash is a great source of beta-carotene which is converted to vitamin A upon consumption, minerals including calcium, potassium and magnesium, as well as vitamins E, C and B.

A great way to introduce squash to children and picky eaters is by serving them in the form of tasty snacks. Here are some easy recipes you can try out.

Biko Kalabasa

Give this classic Filipino kakanin a twist by adding squash to glutinous rice, coconut milk and white and brown sugar. You can also use latik or cooked coconut milk as a topping to make it even more delectable.

Squash Cheese Balls

What’s a way to make children and picky-eaters forget that there’s squash in their snack? Mix it with cheese! Along with grated squash and cheese, all you’ll need for this snack are all-purpose flour, butter, full cream milk, water, salt, ground black pepper and cooking oil.

Puto with Kalabasa

You can easily make this by mixing mashed pumpkin, all-purpose flour, baking powder, evaporated milk, sugar, salt, water, melted butter and egg—and then steaming it. You can also use cheese slices and salted egg as toppings.

Kalabasa Fries

Squash, cooking oil, flour, egg and breadcrumbs can make for a quick fried treat that will satisfy your cravings for fast food French fries.

Creamy Maja Squash

Another kakanin recipe where you can incorporate squash is maja. In addition to the vegetable, you’ll need white sugar, all-purpose or heavy cream, coconut milk, cornstarch and evaporated milk to make this creamy snack. You can also add some cheese for more flavor!

Kalabasa Muffin

Although its ingredient list is a bit lengthy, all of the materials you need for this baked treat should be easily found in your pantry. To bake kalabasa muffins, you’ll need flour, washed or white sugar, evaporated milk, squash, baking powder, vanilla, salt, egg, baking soda, oil and water. If you want to spice it up more, you can add some nuts to the mixture—or use them as toppings (with chocolate chips as another option).

Header photo by henry perks on Unsplash

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