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Ramps
The wild ramp, AKA wild leek, botanical name Allium tricoccum, is a flowering perennial plant that grows in clusters. It is a member of the Allium family along with onions and leeks
Calamondin Limes
The Calamondin lime is a cross between a sour, loose skinned mandarin and a kumquat, therefore technically making it an orangequat.
Salanova® Lettuces
Salanova® lettuce is a full-sized variety developed for the baby lettuce market. Botanically these varieties are scientifically known as Lactuca sativa.
Description/Taste
Prickly chayote is small to medium in size, averaging 10-20 centimeters in length, and has a pear-like shape with deep linear indentations, folds, or puckers and many green-gold spines covering the surface. The number of spines will increase as the squash matures on the vine and the pale green rind is firm and is often discarded because of its tough nature. The creamy white flesh is crisp, and the central core contains one small, flat, edible, and light tan seed. Prickly chayote squash is crunchy and mild with a light, sweet flavor similar to a cucumber. In addition to the fruit, the leaves, shoots, flowers, and roots of the Prickly chayote are edible and utilized in culinary applications.
Seasons/Availability
Prickly chayote squash can be harvested year-round, with peak harvests in the fall and occasionally in late spring.
Current Facts
Prickly chayote, botanically classified as Sechium edule, is the fruit of a tropical climbing vine and a member of the Cucurbitaceae family along with gourds, cucumbers, and melons. Prickly chayote is one of several varieties of chayote that each have a slightly different color, shape, and texture, but they all contain a similar mild, flavor. In the commercial marketplace, the pale green, smooth chayote is more common to find than the Prickly chayote, as removing the spines can be time-consuming. Prickly chayote squash is used around the world in many different cultures and is predominately used as a carrier to soak up accompanying ingredients.
Nutritional Value
Prickly chayote is high in potassium, magnesium, folate, and also contains vitamin C and B6.
Applications
Prickly chayote is best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as grilling, steaming, baking, sautéing, stir-frying, and boiling. Seasoned chefs will note that Prickly chayote is preferred over smooth chayote for their sweeter flavor and firmer flesh. Prickly chayote can be used raw and sliced thin or shredded in both green and chopped salads. It can also be roasted and added to soups, curries, and stews, grilled and served as an accompaniment to main courses featuring pork and poultry, deep fried, or used to make pickles and chutneys. Prickly chayote pairs well with chile peppers, tomatoes, cream-based sauces, bacon, curry, mole, garlic, onions, both soft and hard cheeses, melon, cumin, coriander, oregano, cilantro, lemon or lime juice, nuts such as pistachios, pepitas, and almonds, legumes, and coconut milk. When handling the raw fruit, it is recommended to wear gloves or to peel or slice the fruit in water as the squash secretes a sticky, nontoxic residue which may cause some irritation to sensitive skin. The blossoms of the Prickly chayote can also be utilized in a fashion similar to that of zucchini blossoms, stuffed with soft cheese and fried. After two years of growth, the roots or tubers of the Prickly chayote can be consumed and are most commonly boiled, roasted, or fried. Prickly chayote will keep up to four weeks when wrapped in a paper towel, placed in a plastic bag, and stored in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Prickly chayote was a staple fruit in the diet of the Aztecs in Central Mexico, and they were one of the first cultivators of the vining plant. The name chayote has Spanish origins and comes from the Nahuatl word “chayotli” which means spiny gourd. As explorers encountered chayote in Mexico, they brought the excellent storing fruits on their voyages and spread them across the Americas and to Europe. Prickly chayote was also grown in the United States during the 1850’s along the eastern seaboard as a home garden crop up until the Civil War which halted cultivation. When it was reintroduced in 1890, it was marketed temporarily under the name vegetable pear, a nod to its unique shape and flavor and to distinguish how to prepare the fruit.
Geography/History
Prickly chayote is native to Mexico and Central America, and its first cultivation was during the Aztec Empire of pre-Columbian times. It was then spread across the world via explorers and immigrants, and in the eighteenth century, it was grown extensively in Jamaica where it was known as chocho. It was also exported around the same time from Jamaica to markets along the eastern seaboard in North America in the nineteenth century. Today Prickly chayote can be found at local markets and grocers in North, South, and Central America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| UCSD Food & Nutrition Department Hillcrest | San Diego CA | 619-543-2764 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Prickly Chayote Squash. One
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Vallarta Supermarkets
Vallarta Supermarkets - N Fair Oaks
Near Pasadena, California, United States655 N Fair Oaks Blvd Pasadena CA 91103 626-204-6960 https://www.vallartasupermarkets.com About 162 days ago, 1/31/20 
Baja Ranch Supermarket
Baja Ranch Market - Orange Grove
Near Pasadena, California, United States475 Orange Grove Blvd Pasadena CA 91104 626-577-0343 http://www.bajaranchmarkets.com About 162 days ago, 1/31/20 Sharer's comments : Carefully. 
La Carreta
La Carreta Supermarkets
Near Villa Park, California, United States4637 E Chapman Ave Orange CA 92869 714-771-1595 http://www.lacarretasupermarkets.com About 168 days ago, 1/25/20 
Superior Market
Superior Grocers - Long Beach
Near Long Beach, California, United States1033 Long Beach Blvd Long Beach CA 90813 562-436-2510 https://www.superiorgrocers.com About 168 days ago, 1/25/20 
Fresh Choice Marketplace
Harvest Fresh Markets - Garden Grove
Near Stanton, California, United States9922 Katella Ave Garden Grove CA 92840 714-539-9999 https://www.harvestfreshmarkets.com About 168 days ago, 1/25/20 
Northgate Gonzalez Markets
Northgate Market - Lincoln Ave
Near Anaheim, California, United States2030 E. Lincoln Ave. Anaheim CA 92806 714-507-7640 https://www.northgatemarkets.com About 168 days ago, 1/25/20 
Cardenas Markets
Cardenas Market - El Centro
Near El Centro, California, United States1620 N Imperial Ave El Centro CA 92243 760-482-0139 https://www.cardenasmarkets.com About 172 days ago, 1/21/20 
Los Altos Ranch Markets
Los Altos Ranch Market
Near Glendale, Arizona, United States3415 W Glendale Ave Phoenix AZ 85051 602-841-0346 About 187 days ago, 1/06/20 
Nam Dae Mun
Near Clarkston, Georgia, United StatesAbout 322 days ago, 8/24/19 Sharer's comments : Spine Chayote at Nam Dae Mun Supermarket Near Atlanta 
Buford Highway Farmers Market
Buford HWY Farmers Market
Near Doraville, Georgia, United States5600 Buford HWY NE Doraville GA 30340 770-455-0770 About 322 days ago, 8/24/19 Sharer's comments : Spine Chayote at Buford Farmers Market 
Foods Co
Near San Leandro, California, United StatesAbout 342 days ago, 8/04/19 
Las Montanas #3 Supermarket
Las Montanas Supermarket
Near San Pablo, California, United States13901 San Pablo Ave San Pablo CA 94806 510-965-1507 www.lasmontanasnarkets.com About 344 days ago, 8/02/19 
Mi Familia markets
Near Napa, California, United StatesAbout 344 days ago, 8/02/19 
Lola's Market
Lola’s Market - Petaluma Hill Rd
Near Santa Rosa, California, United States1680 Petaluma Hill Road Santa Rosa CA 95404 707-571-7579 About 354 days ago, 7/23/19 
Lola's Market #1
Lola’s Market & Restaurant
Near Santa Rosa, California, United States440 Dutton Ave #17 Santa Rosa CA 95407 707-577-8846 About 354 days ago, 7/23/19 
Casa Lucas
Casa Lucas Market
Near San Francisco, California, United States2934 24th Street San Francisco CA 94110 415-826-4334 About 363 days ago, 7/14/19 
Cardenas
Cardenas Market
Near Corona, California, United States301 S Lincoln Ave Corona CA 92882 951-371-9030 About 377 days ago, 6/30/19 
La Carreta
La Carreta Supermarkets
Near Villa Park, California, United States4637 E Chapman Ave Orange CA 92869 714-771-1595 About 377 days ago, 6/30/19 
Vallarta Supermarket
Vallarta Supermarkets - Foothill Blvd
Near San Fernando, California, United States13820 Foothill Blvd Sylmar CA 91342 818-362-7577 About 378 days ago, 6/29/19 
El Castillo
El Castillo Carniceria/Food Market
Near Pacoima, California, United States11924 Footjill Blvd Sylmar CA 91342 818-834-3350 About 378 days ago, 6/29/19 
Superior Grocers
Superior Grocers - La Brea Ave.
Near Culver City, California, United States3480 South La Brea Ave Los Angeles CA 90016 323-294-4309 About 379 days ago, 6/28/19 
Vallarta Supermarket
Vallarta Supermarkets - Lincoln Ave
Near Stanton, California, United States2394 Lincoln Ave. Anaheim CA 92801 714-300-0778 About 385 days ago, 6/22/19 
Fresh Choice Marketplace
Fresh Choice Marketplace - Katella Ave
Near Stanton, California, United States9922 Katella Ave. Anaheim CA 92804 714-539-9999 About 385 days ago, 6/22/19 
Buy Low Market
Buy Low Market - State College Blvd
Near Anaheim, California, United States1086 N State College Blvd. Anaheim CA 92806 714-991-9839 About 385 days ago, 6/22/19 
El Super
El Super - Anaheim Blvd
Near Anaheim, California, United States1222 S. Anaheim Blvd. Anaheim CA 92805 714-518-5496 About 385 days ago, 6/22/19 
Northgate Gonzalez Markets
Northgate Market - 4th Street
Near Santa Ana, California, United States409 E. 4th Street Santa Ana CA 92701 714-647-9310 About 386 days ago, 6/21/19 
Virginia Park Farmer's Market
Trevino Farm
Near Santa Monica, California, United StatesLompoc, CA About 616 days ago, 11/03/18 Sharer's comments : Prickly Chayote Squash spotted at Virginia Park Farmer's Market. |
