Chayote Ugly! {Cream of Chayote Soup}


Today, I feel that I have finally made my peace with Chayote. 

Years ago, I had a torrid romance with chayote.  It was during my last pregnancy.  I craved nothing but chayote.  Steamed chayote, raw chayote, fried chayote.  I didn't care how it was prepared, all I knew was that I had to have it!  My obsession with chayote grew as the months passed.

Until one day, I found myself bored with chayote.   It's taste was no longer appealing to me.  I could not bare even the sight of it.  A classic case of too much of a good thing.  Finally, I turned my back on chayote. Never again would my lips taste chayote.  I ignored it when our paths crossed at the mercado (market).  Yes, there were days that I would mourn over the happier moments of our love affair, but alas, I couldn't erase the feelings of disgust that I felt.

But fate had other plans.  This morning, chayote showed up at my doorstep. Gone were the feelings of resentment, and in its place were feelings of hope.  I knew immediately what I wanted to do with chayote.  I wanted to savor it, breathe it in and simply revel in its deliciousness. 

My recipe for Crema de Chayote (Cream of Chayote) was the perfect reconciliation.

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Crema de Chayote
(Cream of Chayote Soup)

Ingredients:
  • 2 Chayotes, peeled and chopped
  • 1/4 cup onion
  • 1 sprig Cilantro
  • 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 2 cups milk


Directions:
In a medium saucepan, heat the chayote, the onion, the cilantro and the chicken broth over medium heat until chayote is tender.



Let chayote cool 5 to 10 minutes.  Pour the cooked ingredients into a blender cup.  Puree until smooth; set aside.

In the same saucepan, melt the butter.  Add flour and mix well.  Let cook for 1 minute.



Gradually add the milk.  Whisk until well combined.  Season with salt and pepper.



Cook until milk mixture thickens slightly.  Add chayote puree.  Stir until well combined.  Cook over medium heat 5 minutes.



Enjoy!!!

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With Love,
Leslie Limon

3 comments

  1. Leslie, this looks delicious—and I really like your creative writing. Lynn

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  2. You made me smile with you love-affair story :)

    Soup looks awesome btw and I never would have thought to do it, the only think I knew to do with these things was to chop 'em up an throw 'em in a caldo :P If you continue to speak to the Chayote's I hope you'll share some more things to do with it :)

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  3. The mom in the family that my son lived with in Colima for his first year of college in Mexico hosted me when I came for a visit. (hmm, 1993?) Knowing I was a vegetarian she made chayote kind of like a twice baked potato (the meat had been scooped out and combined with something (crema?) and then put back in. Then there was a delicious light brown salsa that went on top. I still dream about it.

    Hint, Hint?

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