Chayotes Stuffed With Beef or Pork: A Taste of Home My grandmother, a whirlwind of energy in the kitchen, always had a pot simmering on the stove. While her repertoire spanned countless dishes, the image of her carefully scooping the flesh from pale green chayotes, their pear-like shape nestled in her hands, is etched in … Read more
Rice With Chayote (Fritanga): A Taste of Guatemala The scent of simmering tomatoes and sautéed onions always takes me back to my abuela’s kitchen. I remember sitting at her worn, wooden table, the sunlight streaming through the window, as she prepared simple, yet deeply flavorful dishes. Among my favorites was her rendition of arroz con … Read more
Cream of Chayote Soup: A Taste of Home My grandmother, a whirlwind of culinary energy, always had a pot simmering on the stove. While her repertoire included countless dishes, it was her Cream of Chayote Soup that truly transported me. I can still picture her meticulously peeling the pale green squash, the subtle, almost sweet … Read more
Baked Stuffed Mirlitons: A Taste of Louisiana Comfort The first time I tasted mirliton, or chayote squash as it’s sometimes known, was at a potluck in New Orleans. I was a young culinary student, eager to soak up every flavor Louisiana had to offer. A kind woman named Mrs. Dubois presented a dish that looked … Read more
Jamaican Stuffed Cho-Cho: A Taste of Island Comfort The scent of curry always transports me back to my Auntie May’s kitchen in Kingston. Sunlight streamed through the jalousie windows, illuminating swirling clouds of spice as she stirred a massive pot on the stove. While jerk chicken and curried goat were staples, her stuffed cho-cho was … Read more
Sweet Potato and Chayote Soup: A Harmonious Blend My earliest memories of chayote involve gentle coaxing – my mother, always the champion of this mild-flavored squash, would sneak it into stir-fries and stews, hoping to convert my skeptical palate. While I remained unconvinced for years, this soup, born out of necessity to cater to both … Read more
Roasted Chayotes: A Culinary Adventure I still remember the first time I laid eyes on a chayote. It was at a small farmer’s market in Southern California, nestled amongst the more familiar zucchini and squashes. Its pale green skin and unique pear-like shape immediately intrigued me. The vendor, a sweet woman with a wealth of … Read more
Chicken and Chayote Soup: A Taste of Home The scent of ginger and garlic simmering in chicken broth always takes me back to my Lola’s (grandmother’s) kitchen. I remember sitting on the worn wooden floor, watching her hands move with practiced ease as she prepared this comforting soup. The subtle sweetness of the chayote, mingling … Read more