[Sca-cooks] Chayote: the recipes

[Ann Sasahara]

"Mark.S Harris" wrote:
> I am considering this recipe for later this week, but I'm not sure
> what a "Chayote" is. I think this may be the pale, round, greenish
> pepper thing with a thin papery skin that I've seen in the grocery,
> but I'm not sure. So, can someone tell me what a Chayote is? And just
> in case I can't find one, some possible substitutes?

Hmm, that would be a tomatillo.  Here in New Mexico we also have purple
ones, the "purpur de milpa" heirloom variety.

Chayotes (Sechium edule) are vegetables common in Central America.  There
is the dark green Huisquil and the lighter, rounder, blander Perulero.
Use the Huisquil.  They are used in salads, side dishes and desserts. A
side dish and a dessert recipe follow:

Guiso de Elote con Chayote (Corn and Chayote Saute)

4 ears corn
1/4 c onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 Tb butter
3 chayotes, peeled, cubed, 1/4 inch (about 3 c)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 c milk
1 Tb cilantro, fresh, chopped (or 1 tsp dried herb)

scrape kernals off the cobs. Fry onion and garlic in the butter for 2
mins. Add kernals and chayotes.  Stir fry for 1 min.  Cover and cook for 5
mins.

Add salt, sugar, milk, cilantro. Simmer over low heat for 8 min or until
the chayote is soft.  Serve it forth warm with poultry.

Chancletas (Sandals) -- stuffed dessert chayotes

3 chayotes
4 c water
2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
3 egg yolks
1 Tb almonds, blanched, chopped
1 Tb raisins, chopped
1/4 c sherry
1 Tb butter
1-2 Tbs sweet cookie crumbs (graham crackers)

cook chayotes whole in the water for 30 min or until they are soft.  Half
and scoop out the pulp to make little "shoes" (Yes, this is why this
dish is called "sandals").

Mix the pulp with sugar, cinnamon, egg yolks, almonds, raisins and sherry.
Melt the butter in a skillet and heat the pulp for 10 mins over low heat
to evaporate some of the liquid.

Stuff the chayote "shoes" with the pulp mixture and sprinkle w/ cookie
crumbs.  Arrange your shoes in a greased baking dish amd brown them in an
oven at 350 F for 20 mins.  Serve them forth warm.

Enjoy,

Ariann