Chayote Stir Fry Food

CHAYOTE SHOOT STIR FRY

Steps:

• Wash and clean Chayote shoots, removing tendrils and hard stems. Break stems into two-inch pieces. In a large pot bring two quarts of water to a boil.
• Blanch chayote shoots in boiling water for 1 minute. Drain and cool in ice water.
• In a wok or large frying pan, heat oil and butter. Add garlic and lightly brown over medium heat, stirring constantly. Do not let butter smoke. Add drained shoots and stir fry about three to four minutes; add salt and pepper flakes to taste. Serve immediately.
• Pepper flakes may be omitted for people who do not like spicy food.

CHAYOTE STIR FRY

Steps:

• Thinly slice the chayote squash. In a heated wok, add oil and then ginger and salt. Add squash, carrot and onion and stir fry for 1 to 2 minutes. Add wine and stir, then add snow peas and stock and stir fry for 30 more seconds. Serve over rice or as a side dish.

ASPARAGUS AND CHICKEN STIR-FRY

Steps:

• Freeze the chicken breasts for 20 to 30 minutes and then thinly slice the chicken against the grain into strips. Toss the strips with about half the garlic and ginger, the soy sauce, sugar, 1 teaspoon of the cornstarch, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and the sherry in a bowl. Marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes. Mix the remaining cornstarch with the broth.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add the asparagus, scallions, remaining garlic, ginger, 1/4 cup of water, and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Stir-fry until the asparagus is bright green but still crisp, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
• Heat the same skillet until very hot, then add remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Add the chicken and stir-fry until it loses its raw color and gets a little brown, about 3 minutes. Return the asparagus to the pan and toss to heat through. Stir in the reserved cornstarch mixture and bring to a full boil to thicken. Mound the stir-fry on a serving platter or divide among 4 plates; serve with rice.

CHAYOTES RELLENO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook unpeeled squash in lightly salted water until crisp tender, about 15 minutes. Drain well. Scoop out most of flesh, leaving 1/4-inch thick shell. Season shell with salt and pepper. Coarsely chop chayote flesh. Set aside.
• Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium high heat. Add onion and salt and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook until most of liquid evaporates. Add garlic, jalapeno and cumin and saute until fragrant. Add tomatoes and reserved chayote flesh. Stir until most of liquid evaporates. Stir in epazote, bread crumbs and almonds. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon mixture into shells. Sprinkle with cheese. Arrange shells in large baking pan. Pour enough hot water around shells to reach 1/4-inch. Bake until heated through, about 15 minutes.