what does chayote mean

Chayote is a green, pear-shaped squash-like fruit from a climbing vine in the gourd family, usually eaten as a vegetable in cooking. It is also called vegetable pear, mirliton, choko, or christophene in different regions.

Meaning and origin

• The word “chayote” comes from Spanish chayote , which in turn derives from the Nahuatl (Aztec language) word chayohtli for this plant and its fruit.

• In English, it refers both to the plant and to its edible pear-shaped fruit, especially the variety Sechium edule (also placed as Sicyos edulis).

What the food is like

• Chayote is a mild-tasting squash: light green, with a shape similar to a wrinkled pear, and a crisp texture that softens when cooked.

• Botanically it is a fruit, but in kitchens it is treated as a vegetable, commonly boiled, sautéed, baked, or added to soups and stir-fries.

Other names and where it’s used

• Around the world, it goes by many names: mirliton or christophene (Caribbean, Louisiana), choko (Australia/New Zealand), sayote/sayote (Philippines), güisquil or pataste (Central America), and chocho or chow-chow in parts of India.

• It is popular in Latin American, Caribbean, Filipino, and South Indian cooking, where it shows up in dishes like stews, stir-fries, and curries.

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