Baked Chayotes Recipes

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.

BAKED CHAYOTES

Steps:

• Cook chayotes in water with salt.
• Drain.
• Halve chayotes horizontally carefully so as not to tear outer peel at this stage.
• Scoop out the pulp, discard pit and keep the hollowed out halves.
• Dice the scooped out chayote pulp and mix with onion, cheese and salt to taste if needed.
• Fill in the chayote halves with previous mixture.
• (Optional-- if scooping out pulp and watching out for not tearing outer peel sounds like much bother, just scoop out, discard peel, mash, and proceed with rest of recipe).
• Place in a previoulsy greased pan.
• Sprinkle with bread crumbs, cinnamon, and sugar.
• Bake on high temperature until bread crumbs are browned.

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.

ROASTED CHAYOTES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F with racks in upper and lower thirds.
• Wearing protective gloves, halve chayotes lengthwise and discard seeds. Peel, then cut lengthwise into 1-inch wedges. Toss with oil and 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Divide between 2 large 4-sided sheet pans.
• Roast 45 minutes. Divide garlic between pans, then continue to roast, turning occasionally, until chayotes are golden brown on edges, about 10 - 15 minutes more. Season with salt.
• Cooks' note:
• Chayotes can be roasted 5 hours ahead and kept, loosely covered with foil, at room temperature. Reheat in a preheated 350°F oven (about 15 minutes).