Know your Marrow
Know your Marrow - Introduction
The vegetable marrow, Cucurbita pepo var. ovifera, is cultivated extensively in England, and can grow to be up to 1 metre (3 foot) in length.
The name vegetable marrow is often shortened to just marrow.
Marrow is always served cooked.
It is closely related to the courgette and can be cooked in any manner suitable for that vegetable.
A member of the squash family, the marrow is a distinctive looking, large vegetable.
While related to many varieties of the squash family the marrow is grown to a much larger size than those would normally be grown, while still retaining an acceptable taste.
Know your Marrow - Common names
Called marrow squash in the US.
The vegetable marrow is closely related to courgette, zucchini, and squash, and overgrown specimens of these are often mistaken for it.
Know your Marrow - Botany
The vegetable marrow plant is a half hardy annual, vigorous trailing plant.
The marrow is shaped like a slightly curved cylinder, a bit smaller at the top than the bottom.
Its edible shiny skin can be any shade of green, sometimes with yellow markings that give it a striped or mottled look, and its flesh is tender with a subtle flavour.
Know your Marrow - Cuisine
When buying marrow choose the smallest one that you can.
Over-sized marrows tend to have watery, bitter-tasting flesh. It should be firm and heavy for its size.
Because of its bland flavour, vegetable marrow (sometimes called marrow squash ) is often stuffed with a meat mixture.
It is available in limited supplies in some speciality produce markets during the summer months.
