Ayote, Sita Phal Stock Image

Cucucurbita moschata, Ayote Squash is a tough skinned rounded to oblong squash, known as Calabaza or Auyama. In India it is most commonly grown under the name “Petha”, “Sitaphal” and “Kadu” (a rather common name for several cucurbits). The young fruits are mostly globose to slightly depressed and deep green skin white patches, and harvested when about 25-30 cm in diameter, and weighing 2 to 4 kg, to be cooked as “Petha” vegetable when flesh is lighter yellow in colour (Ayote tierno in Spanish). When allowed to mature, the fruit elongates often to 50 cm in length, rind becoming tougher and yellowish brown in colour to be sold as “Kadu” or “Sita Phal” (Ayote sazon in Spanish), with deep orange flesh, cooked for desserts. The seeds can also be consumed after toasting. The fruit is rich in beta carotene, Vitamin C. In Costa Rica, it is made into a low fat sauce for souteed chicken. The crop is suited to warmer climates.