Creamed Chayote With Chives Recipes

Steps:

• Cook whole bacon strips slowly over low heat in a large soup pot until almost all fat is rendered out, or omit bacon and melt butter. Add diced onion, salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add chicken stock, bay leaves and potato and simmer 20 minutes or until potato slices are soft. Meanwhile, finely chop chayote in a food processor.
• Remove and discard bay leaves and bacon and add chopped chayote. Bring to a boil, return to a simmer, and cook, uncovered, until the chayote is soft, about 15 minutes.
• Puree in a blender until smooth. Strain back into pot, pressing with a ladle to extract all juices. Add cream or half and half. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Serve immediately with lime wedges.

Steps:

• Cut each chayote lengthwise into 1/2-inch wedges and discard seed if necessary. In a 12-inch heavy skillet heat oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook chayotes, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Add cream and simmer until chayotes are tender and cream is slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Add chives and season with salt.

Steps:

• In a large soup pot over low heat, fry the bacon until almost all the fat is rendered, or melt the butter. Raise the heat to medium, add the onion, salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the stock or water, bay leaves and potato and simmer until the potato slices are soft, about 20 minutes
• When the potato slices are soft, remove and discard the bay leaves and bacon. Add the chayotes and bring to a boil. Return the heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, until the chayotes are soft, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Working in batches, puree the soup in a blender until smooth. As each batch is pureed, pour the puree through a sieve placed over a bowl, pressing with the back of a spoon to extract all the juices. Pour the puree back into the pot, add the cream or half-and-half and bring just to a boil. Taste and adjust the seasonings.
• Remove from the heat and ladle into warmed bowls. Slip a few lime slices into each bowl and serve hot.

Steps:

• Split chayotes lengthwise in half. Put them in kettle of cold water with salt to taste. Bring to boil and let simmer about 10 minutes. Do not overcook or the vegetable will become mushy. Drain and run briefly under cold water. Drain again.
• Using spoon or melon-ball cutter, scoop out flesh and seeds of each half, leaving shell about eighth of an inch thick or slightly thicker. Set the shells aside. Chop flesh and seeds fine. There should be about one cup.
• When ready to cook, preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• In mixing bowl combine the chopped pulp with cup of bread crumbs, two cups of cheese, egg, garlic, scallions, pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste.
• Use this mixture to fill chayote halves. Pile filling up and smooth over.
• Combine remaining half cup of cheese with remaining half cup of bread crumbs. Sprinkle tops with mixture, patting to help it adhere. Dot tops of each half with butter.
• Arrange stuffed halves on lightly buttered baking dish. Place in oven and bake 20 minutes.