Pattypan (or UFO!) squash
The colour and shape of these pattypans are phenomenal. You might start to see them as “Sunburst squash,” and looking at them the description fits perfectly.
I asked a vendor if Sunburst squash and pattypan were the same: she said yes, but that customers seemed to relate better to the term pattypan. Interesting.
Immediately recognizable by its roundish, elliptical shape and lovely scalloped edges, the pattypan squash looks something like a UFO. Just as interesting, to me anyway, the term “pattypan” is likely derived from its French name pâtisson.
They are part of the range of summer squashes that have a variety of interesting shapes, from elongated necks to cute little hats with fluted edges, acorn squash and zucchini. They mostly all have a dense, spongy flesh.
They are great to cook on the grill too: I just cut them to even sizes (with some left whole depending on their diameter), slosh them around in some olive oil, maybe some balsamic and spices, and grill to al dente.
Beautiful to look at. Delicious to eat.
