How I cut butternut pumpkin (squash)

Here’s a quick little tutorial for how I cut butternut pumpkin / butternut squash. I originally had this included in the Thai Coconut Pumpkin Soup recipe I also published today but decided to post it separately because it will be useful for other recipes!

How I cut butternut pumpkin

Butternut pumpkin is called butternut squash in the US, UK and pretty much the rest of the world other than in Australia and NZ! It’s part of the squash family and tastes pretty much like pumpkin, though usually it is a little sweeter.

It’s got softer skin that pumpkin so it’s easier to cut. Here is how I cut butternut pumpkin:

1. Peel off the skin using a potato peeler. The skin is softer than pumpkin so it’s easier.

2. Cut in half using a sharp knife. Just straight through the middle, lying down. Use the weight of your body pressing down on the knife and/or rock the knife back and forth.

3. Stand upright, then cut in half again.

4. Halves – Post cutting! 🙂

5. Scoop out the seeds using a spoon.

6. Cut the cheeks off the side with the stem (too hard to cut through the stem).

7. Then trim all the butternut around the rest of the stem.

8. Cut – And finally, cut the butternut into the size you want! For the Thai Coconut Pumpkin Soup recipe, you want them in 3cm / 1.2″ chunks.

Recipes using butternut pumpkin / squash

I use butternut pumpkin / squash for any recipe I make using pumpkin. It’s a direct substitute – same cooking time, methods, quantity etc.

Here are some of my favourite recipes to try using butternut pumpkin!

Roast Pumpkin, Spinach and Feta Salad

Pumpkin Soup

Maple Roasted Pumpkin with Chili and Feta

Easy Pumpkin Gnocchi with Sage Butter Sauce

Creamy Baked Pumpkin Risotto

Vegetarian Lasagna

Easy Coconut Curry Sauce

Roasted Pumpkin with Yogurt Sauce and Pine Nuts

Hope you found this useful! – Nagi x

Watch how to make it

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How to cut butternut pumpkin (butternut squash)

Author: Nagi

Prep: 5 minutes mins

5 from 1 vote

Servings1 butternut pumpkin / squash

Tap or hover to scale

Print

Tutorial video above. This is how I cut butternut squash – called butternut pumpkin here in Australia and NZ. Use butternut as a direct substitute in any recipe calling for pumpkin. Same cook times, cook methods and quantities!

Use to make classic Pumpkin Soup, Thai Coconut Pumpkin Soup, roast it, make a salad, a coconut curry or make pumpkin risotto!

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 whole butternut pumpkin / butternut squash (same thing)

Instructions

• Peel off the skin using a potato peeler. The skin is softer than pumpkin so it's easier.
• Cut in half using a sharp knife. Just straight through the middle, lying down. Use the weight of your body pressing down on the knife and/or rock the knife back and forth.
• Stand upright, then cut in half again.
• Scoop out the seeds using a spoon.
• Cut the cheeks off the side with the stem (too hard to cut through the stem). Then trim all the butternut flesh from around the hard stem.
• Cut – And finally, cut the butternut into the size you want! For Pumpkin Soup, you will want them in 3cm / 1.2" chunks.

Keywords: how to cut butternut squash

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