What it means
کدو حلوایی (kadu halvâyi) is pumpkin or butternut squash. The word کدو is an old Persian word for gourd or squash, and the adjective حلوایی derives from حلوا (halvâ), the Arabic-origin word for a sweet confection, describing the sweet dense flesh of this gourd. A close relative you will see alongside it is کدو سبز (kadu sabz), which is zucchini. When Iranians want to distinguish the large orange or beige winter squash from other gourds, this is the name they reach for.
How to use it
- کدو حلوایی خریدی از بازار؟ (kadu halvâyi kharidi az bâzâr?) “Did you buy pumpkin from the market?”
- سوپ کدو حلوایی درست کن. (sup-e kadu halvâyi dorost kon.) “Make pumpkin soup.”
- کدو حلوایی رو تو فر کباب کردم. (kadu halvâyi ro tu far kabâb kardam.) “I roasted the pumpkin in the oven.”
- این کدو حلوایی خیلی شیرینه. (in kadu halvâyi kheyli shirine.) “This pumpkin is very sweet.”
Cultural note
Pumpkin and winter squash have a long history in Iranian cooking. One of the most popular preparations is آش کدو (âsh-e kadu), a thick soup made with the squash. The sweet flesh also lends itself to a dessert preserve cooked with sugar and spices. In autumn and winter, کدو حلوایی appears in markets across Iran at low prices, making it a staple ingredient in home kitchens.