Gem squash is a variety of summer squash that was originally found in southern and central United States, Mexico and Africa. Preparation is easy but necessary to render the vegetable palatable. The gem squash is split, hollowed out to remove the pips and either steamed, boiled or baked. Once cooked, the versatile veggie can be used as a makeshift bowl and stuffed with all sorts of ingredients, or further broken down for incorporating into other recipes.

One of the easiest way to eat gem squash is on its own, topped with only a bit of butter, sugar, cinnamon or salt and pepper depending on taste. You can get creative with the hollowed out bowl – try filling it with cheesy spicy, creamed sweet corn or barley, feta, mint, coriander and spices for a Moroccan-style stuffed gem squash. Try making a platter with gem squash, tomatoes and capsicum stuffed with wild rice, feta cheese, sage and blue cheese or Greek mince. Gem squash also makes a great baby food, so you can get your bubs hooked on squash before they become fussy.