Sechium Edule Sw. (Cucurbitaceae)
A herbaceous vine with palmy-lobed leaves. Fruits are 8-12 cm long and 5-9 cm wide, pear-shaped, green or pale green, wrinkled and shallowly furrowed, sometimes with soft spines on the broader end. Each fruit contains a large seed.
Origin
It is native to Mexico and Central America, cultivated in hilly areas in Malaysia and many
other parts of the world.
The fruit, after the large seed has been removed, is used as a vegetable. The seed is also edible. Its leaves, young shoot, and root tubers, besides the fruits, are consumed as vegetables among the natives in Central America.
Simmer or add to other vegetables in a stew; don’t discard the seed – when boiled, it is not only edible but also delicious. Halved Chayote can be filled with minced meat and steamed; it can also be steamed and then used to hold a savoury filling. Raw chayote can be diced and used in salads like celery or can be added to apples (though it takes longer to cook) to pad out an apple pie.
Storing:
Wrapped and store in fridge