Chayote is a fruit, but most often used as a vegetable. It looks like a large, green pear, but having a number of deep folds in the skin. In Costa Rica it's referred to as "kissing fruit". Using your imagination, it does resemble a big pair of lips!

Its flavor is a bland mix of zucchini, green beans, and cucumber, and is grown commercially in the US, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, India, North Africa, New Zealand, Australia and China.

Stuffed Chayotes Recipe

Ingredients:

3 Chayotes, peeled halved
Salt and pepper
3 ½ Cups soft breadcrumbs
2 Cups Munster cheese, grated
2 Eggs beaten
3 Tablespoon parmesan cheese, grated
Butter

Procedure:

Parboil the chayotes in salted water for 10 minutes. Drain and carefully scoop out the pulp, leaving at least at ¼ inch shell. Chop pulp and add 3 cups of breadcrumbs, cheese, salt, pepper and eggs. Fill chayotes shell with this mixture. Mix the rest of breadcrumbs with parmesan cheese and sprinkle over the stuffed chayotes. Dot with butter. Bake in a 450 oven for 15-20 minutes or until browned.