Stuffed Mirlitons Chayete Recipes

SHRIMP STUFFED MIRLITONS (CHAYOTE OR VEGETABLE PEARS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Parboil mirlitons/chayote/vegetable pears until almost tender.
• Cut in half and scoop out the meat; mash and set aside, reserving shells.
• Saute onion and garlic in shortening until translucent; add celery and cook until tender.
• Add mashed mirlitons, shrimp, 1/2 of the cheese, and salt and pepper to the sauteed vegetables.
• Fill the reserved shells, cover with remaining cheese and bread crumbs.
• Bake until crumbs have browned, approximately 30 minutes.

STUFFED MIRLITONS

Steps:

• Cut mirlitons in half lengthwise. Remove seeds in center. Boil until tender. Scoop out flesh, reserving shell for stuffing. Mash the flesh.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat oil in a 9 to 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Add onion and celery and saute until tender. Add mashed mirliton flesh, shrimp (or sausage), 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs, seasoned salt, and cayenne pepper and stir to combine. Fill mirliton shells with this mixture. Cover with remaining bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes or until browned. This can be served as a main dish and it also freezes well.

SEAFOOD-STUFFED MIRLITON/CHAYOTE

Steps:

• Steam or boil the mirlitons until the flesh is just tender -- try not to overcook or the shell will fall apart. (Seven minutes in the microwave, 10 minutes in salted boiling water on the stovetop.) Cool slightly and scoop out the flesh, leaving a 1/4-inch shell. Set the flesh aside.
• Saute the onion, garlic, celery and parsley in the butter and olive oil over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes until very tender, adding chicken broth if the vegetables become dry and begin to stick. Add the squash and mash with a potato masher. Cook until squash liquid evaporates.
• Stir in the shrimp and crabmeat and cook until most shrimp are pink, about 2 minutes. Add enough bread crumbs to absorb any liquid in the mixture. Fill the mirliton shells with the mixture. Sprinkle with additional crumbs and dot generously with butter.
• Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes until topping is crisp and golden.

SHRIMP-STUFFED MIRLITON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Put the mirliton halves cut-side down in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Add 1 cup of water, cover tightly with foil and bake until soft, cooked through and easily poked with a fork, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Set aside until cool enough to handle, about 20 minutes. (Leave the oven on.) Scoop out the pulp--making sure to leave a 1/4-inch border all around--then chop the pulp and reserve. Discard the water from the baking dish and return the scooped-out mirliton halves cut-side down.
• Meanwhile, melt 6 tablespoons of the butter with the Cajun seasoning in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the celery, garlic, bell pepper, onion and 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft and just begin to brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the sausage, hot sauce and tomatoes and cook, stirring, until the sausage is warmed through and the tomatoes start to release their juices, about 3 minutes. Add the crab, shrimp and reserved mirliton pulp and continue cooking until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Microwave the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a small microwave-safe dish until melted, about 30 seconds. Add the breadcrumbs and parsley and stir until well combined.
• Turn each mirliton half over so the cut side is facing up. Stuff each with about 1/2 cup of the crab and shrimp mixture--it will seem like a lot, but that's OK. Sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture and bake until the shrimp are cooked through and the breadcrumbs turn a deep golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve with additional hot sauce if desired.

SHRIMP-STUFFED MIRLITONS

Steps:

• Cut mirlitons in half and scoop out the large seed in the middle. Boil in salted water to cover for 25 minutes, or until tender when punctured with the tines of a fork. Be careful not to overcook.
• Drain and cool for 15 minutes, then scrape out insides into a colander to drain. Leave 1/4 inch of flesh inside shell, being careful not to puncture skin.
• Chop drained mirliton flesh and add to a medium bowl. Mix in butter, lemon juice, parsley, salt, pepper, cayenne, Worcestershire sauce and 1/2 cup bread crumbs; set aside.
• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Heat oil in a medium saucepan or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper and celery and sauté until almost translucent. Add garlic, green onion and tomatoes for just about 2 minutes. Add shrimp for 30 seconds to give them a touch of color. Quickly remove pan from heat and let it sit for 3 to 5 minutes to cool slightly. Fold sautéed ingredients into mirliton mixture.
• Scoop stuffing mixture into each mirliton half. Place mirliton in an oven-safe 1 1/2-inch deep pan. You may need two pans. Dust top of each mirliton evenly with remaining bread crumbs. Pour stock into pans to a half-inch depth, before covering and baking. Cover pans tightly with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until tops are lightly browned.

MIRLITONS FARCIS AUX CREVETTES (CHAYOTES STUFFED WITH SHRIMP)

Steps:

• Split chayotes lengthwise in half. Put in kettle of cold water and add salt to taste. Bring to boil and simmer about 10 minutes. Do not overcook or vegetables will become mushy. Drain and run briefly under cold water. Drain again.
• Using spoon or melon-ball cutter, scoop out flesh and seeds of each half, leaving shell of about eighth of an inch thick or slightly thicker. Set the shells aside. Chop flesh and seeds fine. There should be about one cup. Set aside.
• Peel and devein shrimp and chop coarsely. There should be about one and a quarter cups. Set aside.
• When ready to cook, preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Heat half the butter in saucepan and add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring, until wilted. Sprinkle with flour and stir to distribute evenly. Add milk, stirring rapidly with wire whisk.
• When sauce is thickened and smooth, add chopped pulp. Bring to boil, stirring, and add ginger and scallions.
• Remove from heat and stir in egg yolk. Let stand to room temperature. Stir in shrimp, salt pepper, quarter cup of bread crumbs and parsley.
• Use mixture to stuff chayote halves. Pile up and smooth over.
• Blend remaining quarter cup of bread crumbs and cheese. Sprinkle tops with mixture, patting to help it adhere. Dot with remaining two tablespoons of butter.
• Arrange stuffed halves in a lightly buttered baking dish and place in oven. Bake 20 minutes.