butternut squash - peel or not

[mandimoo]

recipe says peel the squash before dicing and chucking into sauce pan with onion, cumin, coriander, veg stock. thing is i REALLY cant be bothered to peel it, and i dont want to roast it first either. is it really necessary to peel it first? i intend to whizz it up after....

[Jugglering]

I think you'd find the peel was still too tough to be edible, mandimoo. An easy way of getting the peel off is to put the squash into a large saucepan, cover with water, put the lid on and bring the water to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for a few minutes. This will cook the skin but not the rest of the squash. Allow it to cool and then simply peel off the skin with a peeling knife.
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[Richard1966]

Peel is very tough and not really for eating.

[maxi2]

What's the big problem with peeling it? It will take all of 90 seconds.

[pastafreak]

The peel is as tough as old boots...a bit like eating tree bark!

[mandimoo]

maxi2 - when i do mashed spuds i never peel them because im lazy and the skins are good for you. ive never prepared a b/nut squash before, and i have to say 90 seconds was a bit hopefull, it actaully took me more like 10 mins (i obviously dont have the knack yet), but it was really a case of if the skins are edible i just aint gonna bother! anways, it was butternut, ground cumin, ground corriander and onion and when it was cooked it looked like canal water, really murky and dirty, but after it was whizzed up it looks a loverly autumny orangey brown and the only improvement i would make is a big dash of chilli. thanks for your answers.

[Lindylou]

Peel it. Just like a potato with a swivel peeler. Takes seconds. And tastes much nicer. OK to roast with the peel on but not otherwise.