Choko/chayote au Gratin
 

Serves 2-4.

1 choko, sliced thinly
About 50g/2oz grated cheese - I used cheddar, but you could replace with other cheeses
Cream - around 50 mL/2 oz

Place the choko in a buttered gratin dish (flattish casserole) and layer, sprinkling with cheese. Drizzle with cream. Cover and place in a moderate oven (350ºF/180ºC) for about an hour, or until choko is tender. Remove cover for the last 15 minutes to give a yummy browned top.

Mr Rosebud strongly approves this dish. :p

I hadn't thought about chokos for years until I saw them mentioned (as chayotes) in Kristine's recipe for faux applesauce. I grew up thinking of chokos as that boring veg that grew wild in the backyard. Interesting to discover that it is low in carbs, and dirt cheap to boot. :thup:

Carb count for 1 chayote/choko (from the carb counter on this site):
Total Carbohydrates 9.13 g
Dietary Fiber 3.45 g

Hey rose, are chayotes really a good replacement for potatoes in a gratin?? What kind of texture do they have? I'm on the search for the PERFECT potato replacement. So far turnip is the best. Lemme know what you think!!

Well I tried the chayote gratin tonight, wasn't too fond of it. I substituted LC milk for cream though since I don't have any. I won't be using the chayote again though. I think this dish will be better with turnips. I'm pondering a scalloped turnip idea.

Someone told me to boil it first until it's tender and then it has more of a potatoe texture. Didn't fool me, but with cream and cheese should be good--of course, what wouldn't? I fried it like hash and wasn't all that impressed.--Gail

thanks rosebud! i have to try this. i love chayote squash. i had no idea it existed until i started eating low carb. i love how it is a firmer squash, it works wonderfully chunked up in soups

i never ate a turnip either until i started this woe, my goodness, i love turnips! i like to put them in foil and throw butter , minced garlic, and whatever other lovely garlicky things i can find on top, ant then throw it in the oven for an hour. delish!

the chayotes froze and defrosted in soup fine too, a factor i can appreciate.

was the chayote hard to grow rosebud?

As I recall, our choko vine just grew almost wild along the chook pen. Very easy indeed to grow, although I guess it would be climate dependent.

Here is some info that might help: http://www.annettemcfarlane.com/Stories/Choko.pdf :)

Roz