Chayote - strange fruit

[ccrider]

Just had this fruit/veg called chayote (no one at the market knew what it was - had to look it up online)

It has a bland taste and then I noticed beads of moisture when i cut it - I licked the bead and it made my tongue sorta numb - did not like this at all.

The sap was also very sticky once exposed to air - this is a weird fruit and I immediately threw it out cuz anything that makes my tonge numb cant be safe.

Yet internet sourced say it's edible. - anybody have any eperience with this fruit

[Yana]

I have never heard of it before, but this is what Cook's Thesaurus, http://www.foodsubs.com/Squashsum.html (www.foodsubs.com), says:


chayote = cho-cho = chocho = christophene = christophine = chuchu = mango squash = mirliton (in the South) = pear squash = vegetable pear = sousous = choko = custard marrow = pepinella = pepinello = xuxu = xoxo Pronunciation: chi-YOH-tay or chi-YOH-tee Notes: This mild-flavored squash looks like a wrinkled, pale green pear. It needs to be cooked before serving, and for a longer time than other summer squash. You should peel a chayote before cooking it, but don't take the seed out--it's edible and tasty. Cooked chayotes make good low-fat substitutes for avocados. Substitutes: zucchini (stonger flavor, cooks more quickly) OR kohlrabi OR other summer squash OR carrots OR bell peppers (for stuffing)

[ccrider]

so interesting - I feel like no one has heard of it - oh well i tried something new at least

[StarFire]

I have never heard of it before, but this is what Cook's Thesaurus, http://www.foodsubs.com/Squashsum.html (http://www.foodsubs.com), says:


thanks for that link - what a great site! :D

[hmmm]

I've never eaten it raw but my mom uses it all the time when she makes chile - a.k.a hot sauce. She boils it to soften it then throws it in the blender with a bunch of jalapenos and whatnot. I guess she uses it to turn down the hotness of the chile. I used to love it! :)

[juliebove]

I've made it a few times cooked. I peeled it, boiled it and served it with cinnamon and sweetener. Tasted very much like baked apples, but much lower in carbs. I've not tried it in a savory dish, but it can also be used that way. Never tried it raw although I vaguely remember a converation here about it some time back. I believe it can be eaten that way.

The "numb" still is just under the peel. It can also be very sticky. If you react to it, it is best to peel it under running water, although that is difficult to do. Whatever this substance is, it makes the surface very slippery and the added water makes it even more so.

I remember suffering badly the first time I made the stuff. I'd read that not everyone reacts to the sticky stuff so I winged it. I reacted. Hands became covered with the sticky stuff and it took forever to wash off. In the meantime, I put up with the numbness.

On subsequent times when I prepared the stuff, I covered my exposed hand with a plastic bag, where I would have to touch the stuff. You could use gloves, but I didn't have any.

I've also read that they don't need to be peeled, but I don't know about that. I'd be leery. If using raw, I'd rinse them very well and try to get all of that substance off of them.

Perhaps one reason why not many have heard of them is that they go by a variety of names. Merliton is one such. And I think they are a lot more popular in areas where they grow wild. I know of an Australian woman who has prepared them in all sorts of ways simply because they do grow wild there. Perhaps it is less common for people to buy them? They were very inexpensive in NY. I used to get them 3/$1 there. So I made them often. Here in WA, they seem to be more expensive.

[juliebove]

I have never heard of it before, but this is what Cook's Thesaurus, http://www.foodsubs.com/Squashsum.html (www.foodsubs.com), says:

Interesting. I despise avocado, but I like chayote. Hmmm...

[jeannieh99]

I really love the flavor of cooked chayote squash. I used to use them all the time in cooked dishes. I can't imagine it would taste very good raw. I'd be interested to see if anyone has enjoyed it raw.
Jeannie