Foodstuff: Chayote – Sybaritica

These globular green fruit are Chayote, which I just picked up at our local ‘Arctic Ventures’ store for the rather princely sum of two dollars apiece. I have actually had these before but it was so long ago I don’t recall exactly when, or where it might have been, nor whether I liked them…

Chayote are native to Mexico but are now cultivated and used worldwide. They are also known as ‘Christophenes’, ‘Pear squash’ and ‘Vegetable pears’, but the most common alternate name I have come across is ‘Merliton’. Although I have only seen the fruit part of the plant, I gather that the stems, roots and leaves are also eaten. The seeds inside the fruit are also edible, but most people choose to discard them.

Although Chayote are botanically classified as a fruit, they are not sweet and thus are used more as if they were a vegetable. They are exceptionally versatile and are often eaten raw (along with the edible skin) and feature in salads as well as salsas. In hot dishes, many recipes suggest only cooking them lightly so that they preserve something of their crisp texture and they are popular in soups, stews and stir-fries. In Indian cookery, they are used in curried dishes and are often added to dal preparations.

On opening, the fruit reveals a homogenous, firm white pulp and a fairly large seed. The seed pops out quite easily and is surrounded by a soft, somewhat velvety textured covering. This covering can be scooped out and discarded, if desired, but it is perfectly edible.

The texture of the flesh is a little like an apple, but not quite as succulent. The flavor is very much like a somewhat nutty cucumber with faint woody notes and is very pleasant. I also tried the seed and it, too, is quite tasty. Both in texture and flavor it is very much like biting into a raw lima bean.

I am planning to use the Chayotes I purchased in a couple of cooked preparations and the first of these will feature them in a dish with shrimp, ginger and salted black beans…

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