As a parent, I have resorted to all sorts of “games” to get my daughter to eat healthier. One of these “games” (when she was in single digits) involved us going to the store and her picking up a vegetable or fruit that was new to her. Of course, the power of choice had her enjoying whatever she picked out over something familiar that I made. Yes – once she actually enjoyed eating boiled bitter melon over honey glazed carrots! Go figure!
This month, The Recipe Redux took us on a trip down memory lane by having us revisit this game! You see, I have had the honor of being a Recipe Redux member for a little over a year now and have kinda gotten addicted to their monthly challenges. This month’s challenge was to cook or bake with a new ingredient. So, my daughter and I headed to the store and came home with some Chayote (pronounced chah–yoh–teh)…
I first came across Chayote on Ramona’s blog when she used this South American staple to make Sri Lankan chow chow that’s often used in Sri Lankan Christmas Cakes. I am thinking that I’ve probably walked by this funky looking member of the gourd family in the produce section of my grocery store many times but never gave it a second glance – till this month’s challenge.
To me, raw Chayote tastes a bit like a cross between cucumber and jicama. When I perused the interwebs, there seemed to be a trillion ways to cook chayote. I opted to go the savory route and keep things simple so I could taste the chayote when it was cooked and not overpower it with spices in this Chayote Dry Curry. I lightly sauteed it with my favorite trio of onions-garlic-ginger and threw in a tad bit of mustard seeds, garam masala and paprika and, snacked on it with the chopsticks that Bobbi sent me – gorgeous aren’t they?
This curry can be paired with some rice, mixed veggie curry, and chutney for a tasty meal.
Ingredients
- 3 chayote - skin peels off seed in the middle removed and then chopped
- 1 onion chopped
- 3 garlic pods chopped
- 1/2 inch piece of ginger chopped
- 2 teaspoons mustard seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt and pepper
- 3 tablespoons vegetable stock
- 1/2 lime
Instructions
- Add chopped onions, ginger and garlic into a pan with olive oil and let saute on a low flame for about 12-15 minutes
- Then add the chopped chayote, vegetable stock, mustard seeds garam masala, and paprika and stir well
- Let cook covered for about 5-7 minutes (if you want the chayote really soft, then keep cooking for about 10-12 minutes)
- Garnish with chili flakes or cilantro or parsley and lime juice and enjoy warm
Do you have a new ingredient that you have cooked or baked with recently? Or, is there one you want to try?
Have you tried chayote?
Loved it !! Will make a lot .Can also add cubes of Pumpkin
Absolutely loved this recipe. I only had 2 large chayotes but I kept everything the same . . . . excellent, fast, delicious!!
I’ve never tried chayote before, but I like cucumber and jicama so I guess I should give it a go 🙂 Thanks for showing us how to cook it up!
Thanks so much Caroline
I absolutely love love this Sashi. WE use it so much in South Indian cooking and this looks and sounds so so delicious. In fact after you asked me, I was talking to mum and she said that she makes halwa out of it I’ve even eaten it.
Love it my dear and those chopsticks.
xx
Oh wow – your mom makes halwa with chayote?! Now I would love to taste that! That must be so so good! Usually South Indian and Northern Sri Lankan cuisine have a lot in common, but chayote is new to my mom – and me – though I have been out of the country for three quarter of my life!
BTW Thanks so much sweet friend!
Love chayotes! I usually make “fries” with them but I’m definitely trying this!
Thanks so much Sarah!
Shashi, I love that “game” that you played with your daughter, I can’t wait to try it with Sienna. I’ve never had chayote but I’ve definitely seen it on lots of cooking shows and at the market. Your preparation looks wonderful!
Sonali – I cannot wait for you to try it with Sienna too – I used to play so many games with my gal to get her to eat her veggies – she was born a carb lover! There was this other game where I’d get her to try different colored foods – like 3 peas, 2 carrots, 1 tomato – math and veggies in one!
BTW Thanks so much!
I’ve never tried chayote….I’m not even certain I can find it in my local grocery stores. Although, it could be one of those items I’ve just looked right past. I will have to start searching!
Kathy – I found it at Kroger – TBH, I walked by these so many times before! I hope you get to find chayote.
Thanks so much!
Chayote has always intrigued me and I have yet to try it! Love all of the seasonings you used – can’t wait to pick some up!
Thanks so much Alanna!
Your savory Chayote dish looks scrumptious, Shashi! We must try your recipe soon at our house as we’ve never tried it before. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much Stacy!
Definitely new to me! Can’t wait to try it!
I sure hope you do Kelli 🙂
Interesting. I don’t think I’ve seen chayote before!
Chayote is definitely intriguing indeed Rebecca!
We don’t get these here but I’m always up for trying something new 🙂
Me too Tandy! 🙂
At first I thought this was a potato curry! Then I saw the chayotes. I think we call those chokos. We used to have them growing on a fence when I was a teenager. We never really knew what to do with them. They’re very bland and I think putting them in a curry is a great idea xx
“Chokos” – gosh I am so intrigued! I need to do some more research on chayotes – they are indeed bland – but are good at absorbing whatever they are spiced up with! Thanks Charlie xx
This looks great! SO full of flavor and super creative! Great recipe! 😀
Thanks so much Kennedy!
I love how simple this is! I’ll have to try it with my kiddos. 🙂
Thanks so much Kalee – hope your kiddos enjoy it 🙂
Chayote is one vegetable I’ve yet to try – loved this month’s theme to get us to try new ingredients!
Jeanette I loved this months theme too! 🙂
I wonder how things would have played out if my mom tried this game with me. I was apparently a nightmare to cook for when I was younger because of how picky I was, and my mom all but gave up on me as soon as I hit my teens. Somehow things worked out for the best anyways, though, and I managed to end up as a healthy eater on my own.
Hope you and your daughter have a lovely weekend, Shashi!
Haha – Amanda my daughter was so picky too – so I came up with all these games to try to coax her! I was one of THOSE moms! 🙂 But, you are right – things usually work out – my daughter gets me to pick up broccoli these days – saying she craves it – had I known it would be so easy, I might not have tried so hard to coax her back then!
I’ve never made any recipes with Chayotes but now you have me interested. Thanks for coming up with this creative recipe for us to try!
And thank you so much Pamela!
Interesting, I’ve never seen cayote! Now I’m excited to try it! Looks delicious!
Thanks so much Mira
This is a new ingredient to me as well. I’ll have to look out for it next time I’m at the store!
I sure hope you get to try it Rachel!
Love that you include your daughter in your posts and meal prep. This is such a fun post and you are teaching me something new
Thanks so much Diane – it’s just the two of us, so think that kinda makes it easier 🙂
I couldn’t stand chayote when I was a kid,and haven’t touched it since. But I also disliked Brussels sprouts and cauliflower, which are now two of my favorite veggies. So this post has positively inspired me to try chayote again, and I’m geekily excited about it!
Funny how our tastes change huh? BTW Thanks so much Annie!
So so cool! I see them in the grocery every week but never buy them since I had NO idea what to do with them!! I’m getting some next week!
Yes – cannot wait to see what you make with them Rebecca! BTW Thanks so much
Fun! I have seen chayotes in the store, but I never really knew what they were. I love the sense of adventure here. Just grab one and then figure out what to do with it when you get home! This sounds like a super simple and super tasty side dish. Thanks for the inspiration, Shashi! I hope you guys have a great weekend…and I hope you don’t get hammered too bad by this snow storm! 🙂
Haha – yes – the sense of adventure was/is strong with Lil Shashi and I!
BTW – I was shocked to hear y’all didn’t get clobbered – NYC got hit so bad – or good depending on your perspective I guess!
what a wonderful way to enjoy chayote!
Thanks so much Regan!
I have played many games with my kids too–and they have picked out some winners over the years. And one of the things on our list to try is Chayote–so we must make this!!
Thanks so much Kristen – I’ve seen some delightful sweet dishes using chayote too – hope y’all enjoy Chayote – no matter how y’all make it! 🙂
Best of luck with your daughter! I hope she keeps making progress and will try new things! She seems well on her way and you must have fun games you play! -This recipe looks awesome and great to know a way to bring out some of that chayote flavor in things.
Thanks so much Taylor!
Wow… I have to share this recipe with my mother! I only recently worked with chayote to make homemade Chow Chow Preserve for my SL Christmas cake. I like finding another way to cook it. 🙂
Ramona, yyour chayote chow chow was so fascinating! Thanks so much BTW 🙂
I’ve seen chayote in the store but I wasn’t sure how to bring the flavor out. Thanks for a cool way to try it!
Thanks so much Cindy
This looks incredible! I have never tried chayote, but I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere…maybe at the Asian produce market I frequent – I will keep my eyes open for it now. I’m equally impressed by the combination of spices you used in this recipe, I want to try it on potatoes! Looks so delicious…
Thanks so much Aggie! Yes these spices would work well on potatoes – one of my favorite ways to eat potatoes is this way https://savoryspin.com/2015/08/22/sri-lankan-deviled-potatoes-ala-thel-dala/
Have never seen those gourds over here…but I bet this recipe would go great with some parsnip or/and sweet potatoes. Geez…now I feel hungry!
You are indeed right Angie – actually – I think I’d pick potatoes over chayote anyday! 🙂