A Trio of Summer Squash: Sautéed Zucchini, Chayote, and Yellow Squash There’s something inherently comforting about a simple summer sauté. I remember my grandmother’s garden overflowing with zucchini, yellow squash, and the strangely delightful chayote. We’d spend afternoons harvesting, the sun warm on our faces, and then head straight to the kitchen. The aroma of … Read more
Sauteed Chayote With Garlic and Herbs: A Simple Yet Satisfying Side Dish Chayote. The very word conjures memories of my grandmother’s garden. As a child, I remember being fascinated by the unusual, pear-shaped vegetables climbing up her sturdy trellis. She always seemed to have an abundance, and one of her favorite ways to use them … Read more
Sautéed Chayote and Onions: A Taste of Simplicity My grandmother, a woman of few words but endless resourcefulness, always had a way of transforming humble ingredients into dishes that sang with flavor. I remember one summer afternoon, the air thick with the scent of oregano and caramelized onions wafting from her kitchen. She was preparing … Read more
This Goat is a Real Jerk: A Taste of the Caribbean The first time I had jerk goat, it was from a roadside stall in Jamaica. The air was thick with the scent of charcoal and spices, and the music was loud and joyous. I remember the vendor, a woman with a smile as warm … Read more
Chayote Salad: A Culinary Revelation The first time I tasted chayote, I was a skeptical culinary student in Oaxaca. Its pale green color and mild flavor led me to believe it was just another bland vegetable. But then, a local chef prepared a simple salad, showcasing chayote’s unique crispness and ability to absorb flavors. Suddenly, … Read more
Sautéed Chayote With Garlic and Herbs: A Simple Taste of Home I remember the first time I encountered chayote. It was at my grandmother’s house, nestled among the other vegetables she’d grown in her backyard garden. She called it “vegetable pear,” and although I was a picky eater, the way she sautéed it with garlic … Read more
Mirliton Casserole: A Taste of Louisiana Comfort Every Thanksgiving, our family kitchen transformed into a fragrant symphony of simmering spices and bubbling pots. Among the traditional turkey, cranberry sauce, and sweet potato pie, one dish held a special place in my heart: Mirliton Casserole. I remember my grandmother carefully scooping the tender flesh of the … Read more
Chayote, Corn & Tomato Salad: A Taste of Sunshine The first time I tasted chayote was at a small family-run restaurant in Oaxaca, Mexico. The matriarch of the family, with twinkling eyes and a smile that could melt glaciers, insisted I try her “ensalada especial.” I was instantly captivated by the refreshing crunch of the … Read more
Chayote With Cheese (Stuffed & Baked) The first time I tasted chayote was at my abuela’s house in Texas. I remember being a picky eater, wrinkling my nose at anything green, but she insisted I try this strange, pear-shaped vegetable. She’d baked them with a cheesy filling, and the creamy, slightly sweet flavor won me … Read more
Chayote Squash With Cauliflower and Sherry: An Unexpected Delight I still remember the first time I encountered chayote squash. It was at a small farmers market in Southern California, nestled amongst more familiar produce. I was drawn to its pale green, pear-like shape and intriguing ridges. It looked so different from anything I’d ever cooked … Read more
Chow-Chow (Chayote) Sabzi: A Humble Delight My grandmother’s kitchen always smelled of something earthy and comforting. While elaborate dishes graced festival tables, it was the simple, everyday sabzis that truly filled my heart. I can still picture her, a whirlwind of gentle efficiency, coaxing flavor from the most unassuming vegetables. This Chow-Chow (Chayote) Sabzi is … Read more
Caramelized Salmon with Mirliton Slaw My first encounter with mirliton squash was during a sweltering New Orleans summer. The air hung thick with humidity, and the aroma of spices drifted from every open doorway. Tucked away in a tiny French Quarter bistro, I discovered this dish – a symphony of sweet caramelized salmon dancing atop … Read more
Stuffed Chayotes (Chayotes Rellenos): A Taste of Home My grandmother, Abuela Elena, had a garden overflowing with life. Among the vibrant tomatoes, fragrant herbs, and sprawling squash vines, the chayote plants always stood out. Their prickly, pear-shaped fruits were a staple in her Caribbean kitchen, and her chayotes rellenos were legendary. I remember the comforting … Read more
Chayote Shoot Stir Fry: A Taste of Verdant Spring The first time I tasted chayote shoots, I was backpacking through Southeast Asia. A tiny, open-air restaurant in the hills of Vietnam served them simply stir-fried with garlic and a hint of chili. The tender, slightly sweet flavor, combined with the satisfying crunch, was unlike anything … Read more
Sautéed Choko: A Culinary Rediscovery Choko. The word alone used to conjure up images of my grandmother’s overly-boiled, bland vegetable medleys. As a child, I’d strategically maneuvered the pale green chunks around my plate, a silent protest against what seemed to be a kitchen punishment. It wasn’t until years later, traveling through Southeast Asia, that … Read more
Stuffed Chayote: A Taste of Home, Wherever You Are The first time I encountered chayote squash, or mirliton as we called it in my grandmother’s kitchen, I was a skeptical child. Its pale green skin and mild flavor didn’t exactly scream “delicious” from the grocery store shelf. But Grandma Rose had a way with vegetables, … Read more
Sopa De Pollo: A Taste of Home The aroma alone transports me back to my grandmother’s kitchen in Guatemala. I remember the comforting scent of simmering chicken, mingling with the sweetness of plantains and the earthy notes of yucca. Every Sunday, this pot of Sopa de Pollo would bubble away on her stove, a beacon … Read more
Stuffed Chayote: A Taste of Home I remember the first time I encountered chayote squash. It was in my grandmother’s garden, a sprawling patch of vibrant green nestled behind her little house. These strange, pear-shaped vegetables, so unlike anything I’d seen before, were sprawling across a trellis. She’d pluck them, dust them off, and with … Read more
Indonesian Vegetable Sour Soup (Sayur Asam) The aroma alone transports me back to my grandmother’s kitchen in Jakarta. I remember standing on a small stool, mesmerized as she expertly ground spices with her stone mortar and pestle, the scent of tamarind filling the air. The clatter of her cooking, the vibrant colors of the vegetables, … Read more
Seafood-Stuffed Mirliton: A Taste of New Orleans The scent of the Gulf Coast always evokes a flood of memories, but none so potent as the aroma that wafted from Uglesich’s in New Orleans. It was more than just a restaurant; it was a portal. A single bite of their seafood-stuffed mirliton – though they often … Read more
Cucumber, Pineapple, Chayote, and Poblano Chile Pepper Slaw I remember the first time I tasted a slaw that wasn’t just mayonnaise and shredded cabbage. It was at a small taco stand in Oaxaca, Mexico. The vibrant colors and fresh flavors – the tang of pineapple, the slight heat of chili peppers – completely transformed my … Read more
Grilled Chayote: A Simple Summer Delight I still remember the first time I encountered chayote. It was at a small farmers market tucked away in a quiet corner of Oaxaca, Mexico. The vendor, a kind woman with weathered hands and a warm smile, urged me to try it grilled, simply seasoned with salt, pepper, and … Read more
Sautéed Choko: A Taste of Simple Comfort I remember the first time I encountered choko. My grandmother, a formidable woman with an even more formidable garden, grew them in abundance. They were often treated with suspicion, relegated to the back of the fridge, and occasionally, quietly composted when no one was looking. But sometimes, she’d … Read more
Refreshing Chayote Squash Salad: A Taste of Brazil in Your Kitchen I’ll never forget the first time I encountered chayote squash. It was in a bustling São Paulo market, surrounded by vibrant fruits and vegetables I’d never seen before. An elderly woman, her face etched with years of sunshine and wisdom, gestured towards the pale … Read more
Stewed Chayote: A Taste of Home My grandmother, a woman whose hands told stories etched in wrinkles and calluses, grew chayote in her backyard like it was the most precious thing on Earth. I remember trailing behind her, the humid air thick with the scent of blooming jasmine, as she showed me how to coax … Read more
Filipino Chicken Chayote: A Taste of Home The scent of ginger simmering in broth always takes me back to my Lola’s kitchen. She would stand over a large pot, carefully adding each ingredient with a practiced hand, a comforting symphony of clangs and splashes filling the air. The steam rising from the pot would carry … Read more
Mexican Chayotes With Corn and Chiles I remember the first time I tasted chayote squash. I was visiting my Abuela Elena in Oaxaca, and she was bustling around her outdoor kitchen, the air thick with the aroma of roasting chiles and simmering spices. She handed me a warm bowl filled with what looked like a … Read more
Cuban Chayote Salad: A Refreshing Taste of the Tropics The first time I tasted this salad, I was visiting my abuela in Miami. It was a sweltering afternoon, the kind where the humidity hangs heavy in the air. She brought out a bowl of this vibrant green salad, the chayote glistening with a light vinaigrette. … Read more
Filipino Tinola: A Comforting Ginger-Infused Chicken Soup The scent of ginger, garlic, and fish sauce simmering on the stove instantly transports me back to my Lola’s (grandmother’s) kitchen. She made the best Tinola, her hands moving with a practiced ease as she transformed humble ingredients into a bowl of pure comfort. Every spoonful was a … Read more
Lou’s Chayote Soup: A Taste of Unexpected Delight My first encounter with chayote squash was a complete accident, a produce aisle gamble that thankfully paid off handsomely. Intrigued by its pale green, pear-like shape, I tossed a few into my basket, completely unsure of what culinary adventure awaited. Little did I know, that innocent purchase … Read more