Stuffed Chayote Squash Food

SHRIMP-STUFFED MIRLITON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Put the mirliton halves cut-side down in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Add 1 cup of water, cover tightly with foil and bake until soft, cooked through and easily poked with a fork, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Set aside until cool enough to handle, about 20 minutes. (Leave the oven on.) Scoop out the pulp--making sure to leave a 1/4-inch border all around--then chop the pulp and reserve. Discard the water from the baking dish and return the scooped-out mirliton halves cut-side down.
• Meanwhile, melt 6 tablespoons of the butter with the Cajun seasoning in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the celery, garlic, bell pepper, onion and 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft and just begin to brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the sausage, hot sauce and tomatoes and cook, stirring, until the sausage is warmed through and the tomatoes start to release their juices, about 3 minutes. Add the crab, shrimp and reserved mirliton pulp and continue cooking until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Microwave the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a small microwave-safe dish until melted, about 30 seconds. Add the breadcrumbs and parsley and stir until well combined.
• Turn each mirliton half over so the cut side is facing up. Stuff each with about 1/2 cup of the crab and shrimp mixture--it will seem like a lot, but that's OK. Sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture and bake until the shrimp are cooked through and the breadcrumbs turn a deep golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve with additional hot sauce if desired.

CHAYOTE SQUASH SIDE DISH

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in medium skillet over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add garlic, squash, salt, pepper, sugar, and red pepper flakes. Stir together and cook 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add vinegar to the squash mixture and cook 2 to 3 minutes longer, until the squash is slightly wilted, but still firm and crunchy. Taste, and add more salt or sugar if needed.

CHAYOTES STUFFED WITH BEEF OR PORK

Steps:

• Wash chayotes & bring to a boil in salted water. Reduce heat to moderate, cover & boil about 1 hour, or until fork tender.
• In a heavy pot, heat oil. Add next 4 ingredients & stir constantly over high heat until meat losses it's red color.
• Reduce heat to moderate. Add next group of ingredients, mix, cover & cook for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Drain chayotes, remove cores & fibrous part under core. Scoop out the pulp, being careful not to break the shells. Place shells on an aluminum cookie sheet. Mash the pulp immediately & add to pot. Mix & cook at low heat for 15 minutes.
• Fill chayote shells with the mixture. Sprinkle with crumbs & dot with butter. Bake in preheated 375 deg oven until crumbs are golden brown.
• (Note: To me chayote squash taste a bit like apples, after it's cooked.).

CHORIZO-STUFFED CHAYOTE SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the chayotes and boil for 50 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork. Drain the chayotes and let them cool slightly. Then cut the chayotes in half, removing and discarding the pit from each one. Carefully scoop out the flesh from each chayote and transfer it to a small bowl. Transfer the empty chayote skins to a baking sheet.
• Cook the chorizo in a dry medium sauté pan over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, or until browned. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 8 minutes, or until the onion is translucent. Add the chayote flesh and half of the Manchego cheese, and stir to combine and melt the cheese. Season the filling to taste with salt and pepper, and remove from the heat.
• Scoop the filling into the chayote skins, dividing it equally. Top with the remaining Manchego cheese, and sprinkle with the bread crumbs. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the cheese bubbles.

CHAYOTE WITH CHEESE (STUFFED & BAKED)

Steps:

• Cut the chayotes in half, place in boiling salted water and cook until tender, approximately 15 minutes.
• Scoop out the pulp and reserve the shells.
• Chop the pulp and drain.
• Mince the onion and slowly fry in butter or olive oil until transparent.
• Add the pulp of the chayote and season to taste with salt & pepper.
• Add the 2 beaten eggs over the mixture and cook over low heat for a few minutes, mixing well until done.
• Stuff the chayote shells and top with grated cheese.
• Place in hot oven, 400 degrees until cheese is melted & golden.

STUFFED CHAYOTE RECIPE

Steps:

• Bring 2 quarts salted water to boil in large saucepan. Add chayotes; cook 4 minutes or until crisp-tender. (Do not overcook.) Drain chayotes; pat dry. Cover each of 8 of the chayote slices with 1 cheese slice; sprinkle with desired amount of crushed red pepper. Top with remaining chayote slices. Set aside.
• Beat egg whites in small bowl with electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Add 1 of the egg yolks and 2 tsp. of the flour; beat on low speed just until blended. Discard remaining 3 egg yolks or reserve for another use. Dip chayotes into remaining flour, turning to evenly coat both sides. Pat slices gently to remove excess flour, then dip into egg white mixture.
• Heat oil in large saucepan on medium-high heat. Carefully add chayotes, 1 at a time, to hot oil; cook 1 minute on each side or until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels.

BAKED CHAYOTE SQUASH

Steps:

• Place the chayote into a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until very tender, 45 to 50 minutes. Drain and allow to steam dry for a minute or two.
• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Remove the seed and seed membrane from the chayote using a spoon; discard. Scoop out as much of the remaining pulp as possible into a bowl without puncturing the shell. Pat the shell dry with a paper towel and place in a baking dish; set aside. Squeeze the excess water from the reserved pulp. Stir in the butter, egg, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and 2 tablespoons Cheddar cheese until well-blended. Fill each of the chayote shells with the pulp/cheese mixture. Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/4 cup Cheddar cheese on top, followed by the bread crumbs.
• Bake in the preheated oven until heated through and the cheese has melted, 35 to 45 minutes.