Chayote was one of the foods introduced to the Old World during the Columbian Exchange.

Originating from Central America where it was cultivated by the Aztecs and Mayans, European explorers spread the plant to the Caribbean where it is known as christophene or chou chou. Chayote is an important part of traditional diets across Mesoamerica.

The flesh of this water fruit has a fairly bland taste yet has an appealing crunchy texture like an apple or a hard pear when eaten raw and more like a cucumber when cooked.

Due to its purported cell-regenerative properties, it is believed that this fruit caused the mummification of people from the Colombian town of San Bernardo who extensively consumed it.

The first recorded watermelon harvest occurred about 5,000 years ago in Egypt and is depicted in Egyptian hieroglyphics on walls of their ancient buildings. Watermelons were often placed in the burial tombs of kings to nourish them in the afterlife.

I have combined these thirst quenching ancient fruits with warming Caribbean spices then toned it down with lime to make a somewhat mad sweet and sour dish.

#MyCookbook