Vegetable
Chayote
Chayote (Sechium edule) is a pale green, pear-shaped squash with crisp, mild, apple-cucumber flesh and a single soft seed. Skin is usually edible when young. It takes on surrounding flavours in stews, gratin, and stir-fries. Dice for sauté, stuff whole, or spiral as a low-starch noodle stand-in. Also called mirliton in Louisiana. Mildness loves spice, cheese, and stock.
Also known as: Mirliton, Christophene, Chayote
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A sample of named types with their own origin and culinary profiles.
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Nutrition
Typical values per 100 g edible portion. Nutrient names open the reference page.
Nutrition Facts
Per 100 g edible portion
Amount per 100 g
- Total Fat 0.28 g
- Saturated Fat 0.05 g
- Trans Fat 0 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 0.05 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 0.16 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Sodium 19.3 mg
- Salt 0.05 g
- Total Carbohydrate 6.9 g
- Dietary Fibre 2.31 g
- Total Sugars 2.99 g
- Complex / starch 2.14 g
- Protein 1.98 g
- Water 91.3 g
- Energy 32.3 kcal
- Water 91.3 g
- Carbohydrates 6.9 g
- Sugars 2.99 g
- Monosaccharides 2.1 g
- Disaccharides 0.9 g
- Starch 2.14 g
- Amylose 0.54 g
- Amylopectin 1.61 g
- Digestible Starch 1.82 g
- Resistant Starch 0.21 g
- Fibre 2.31 g
- Soluble Fibre 0.81 g
- Insoluble Fibre 1.5 g
- Protein 1.98 g
- Plant Protein 1.88 g
- Fat 0.28 g
- Saturated Fat 0.05 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 0.05 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 0.16 g
- Vitamins 95.3 mg
- Vitamin A 20 µg
- Vitamin B1 — Thiamine 0.06 mg
- Vitamin B2 — Riboflavin 0.08 mg
- Vitamin B3 — Niacin 0.62 mg
- Vitamin B5 — Pantothenic Acid 0.31 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.15 mg
- Vitamin B7 — Biotin 1.5 µg
- Vitamin B9 — Folate 30 µg
- Vitamin C 18 mg
- Vitamin E 0.39 mg
- Vitamin K 24.2 µg
- Minerals 431 mg
- Major Minerals 425 mg
- Trace Minerals 6.2 mg
- Salt 0.05 g
- Sodium Chloride 0.05 g
Vitamins
vitamin-c: 18 · vitamin-a: 20 · vitamin-b1-thiamine: 0.06 · vitamin-b2-riboflavin: 0.08 · vitamin-b3-niacin: 0.62 · vitamin-b5-pantothenic-acid: 0.31 · vitamin-b6: 0.15 · vitamin-b7-biotin: 1.5 · vitamin-b9-folate: 30 · vitamin-e: 0.39 · vitamin-k: 24.2 ·
Minerals
Sodium: 19.26 · Potassium: 373 · Calcium: 33 · Iron: 0.8 · Zinc: 0.4 · Iodine: 5 ·
Most vegetables are high-water, low-energy, with fibre and potassium ahead of protein.
History
Mesoamerican agriculture domesticated chayote as a staple squash.
Louisiana Creole cookery adopted mirliton (chayote) stuffed and stewed.
Chayote spread through tropical and subtropical markets worldwide.
Health-conscious cooks used chayote as a crisp, mild vegetable base.