Chayote Ugly

Every once in a while I come across an unusual ingredient that I perhaps read about or had seen used on television, but I never get the chance to taste or cook with it myself. That was not such the case when I encountered chayote at a local farmer’s market last year. Having only heard the name before, I really had no idea what chayote was, but I was eager to taste it. And surprised I was.

Chayote (pronounced chay-oh-tee), and also known as mirliton, is actually a squash-like vegetable that resembles the shape and color of an Anjou pear. Unlike the pear, though, its exterior is wrinkled and lined with small canyons, making it appear rather unappetizing. Along with cucumber and melon, it is a member of the gourd family, and appropriately tastes like a combination of all its relatives. It has a crisp, cucumber-like crunch, but a bland zucchini, honeydew-like taste and texture….. yes, what an odd marriage of flavors and textures. As apparent by my aforementioned description, chayote is not the most pleasant vegetable eaten by itself, but, when added with other ingredients and, or cooked properly, it can be quite delicious.