Mexican cucumber: description, useful properties

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Mexican chayote cucumber is a plant that belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family. Its leaves and stems are very similar to creepers. In one season, the plant can bear up to 80 pear-shaped fruits. In length, the Mexican cucumber can reach more than 12 centimeters. as for the weight of the fruit, it averages 600 grams. The skin of this variety of pumpkin is quite strong, thin and shiny. The fruits may be green or yellow. The pulp is white, sweetish and juicy. Mexican cucumber tastes like zucchini.

This amazing plant is native to Central America. The described vegetable has become widespread and is grown in many countries.

Mexican Cucumber He alth Benefits

Chayote is a tasty and he althy vegetable. Mexican cucumber fruits contain a large number of amino acids, including threonine, leucine and arginine. In addition, chayote is rich in vitamins and minerals. The use of such products has a positive effect on he alth. Ascorbic acid, for example, strengthens the immune system.

It is worth noting that chayoterefers to low-calorie foods. Therefore, Mexican cucumber can be used for weight loss, as well as during therapeutic diets. In addition, Chayote has no contraindications. The exception is individual intolerance.

The benefits of this plant were also appreciated by traditional healers. Various decoctions are prepared from its leaves, which help with swelling, hypertension and urolithiasis. Tubers are often used to treat atherosclerosis and normalize blood pressure.

Mexican cucumber is recommended for thyroid problems, constipation, hemorrhoids, pancreatitis and ulcers, breast cancer and mastopathy.

Use in cooking

Mexican cucumber is a plant that can be eaten whole. The exception is the stem. Young shoots of the plant can be boiled and then added to side dishes, soups and first courses.

Mexican cucumber leaves are often added to salads. They can even be used as a side dish. The taste of the fruit is very similar to zucchini. Therefore, the cooking technology is very similar. Chayote can be stuffed, stewed, fried, boiled, baked and so on.

It is worth considering that the Mexican cucumber, the photo of which is presented above, goes well with other vegetables, such as tomatoes and eggplant. Puree made from these products is perfect for meat and fish dishes as a side dish. In addition, chayote is combined with various sauces and spices. Mexican cucumber is also added tovarious pastries along with other fruits.

Flour is made from the tubers of the plant, as they contain a large amount of starch. Chayote can be pickled if necessary.

S alted Chayote

How can I serve a Mexican cucumber? The recipes for this vegetable are quite simple and do not require special skills. To make s alted chayote you will need:

1. Mexican cucumber fruit.
2. S alt.
3. Horseradish root.
4. Garlic.
5. Celery, dill, parsley.

For brine you will need:

1. 1 liter of water.
2. 50 grams of s alt.
3. Bay leaf, cilantro, cloves - to taste.

Preparing food

Mexican cucumber fruits of any size must be washed and put into jars. The largest ones can be cut. Chayote should be sprinkled with chopped horseradish and garlic, previously peeled. In each container, put celery, dill and parsley. You can choose one thing.

If there are no horseradish roots, they can be replaced with leaves of this plant with long petioles. They should be cut, and the juicy part beat off.

How to cook

First, you should prepare the brine. To do this, pour the required amount of water into the pan. Spices and s alt should also be added here. Be sure to cool the finished brine, and then pour it into jars with chayote. From above, it is recommended to cover the fruits with horseradish leaves. Mexican cucumber jars should be kept warm.souring room. This takes 3 to 5 days. After the specified time, you can try chayote. If the taste is completely satisfied, then you can eat.

Can I roll up

If you want to keep the product for a long time, you can roll it up in jars. The cooking technology in this case is slightly different. The brine must be poured into jars and wait a bit. After 10 minutes, the liquid from the containers must be drained, and then brought to a boil. Hot brine should be poured into jars, and then rolled up. At the end of the container you need to wrap. When warm, jars of Mexican cucumber should stand for 5 hours.

A 3 liter container requires approximately 1.5 liters of liquid. However, experts recommend preparing the brine with a margin. Indeed, during transfusion and reheating, part of the liquid evaporates and spills. Ready Mexican cucumber can be consumed in its pure form. And also add to pickles, salads.

Mexican cucumber with beans

There is another way to make chayote. How to cook Mexican cucumber? Recipes for the winter allow you to save food for a long time. In this case, for cooking you will need:

1. 500 grams of beans (shoulders).
2. 1 kilogram of Mexican cucumber.
3. Garlic.
4. Fuck.
5. Greens - basil, cilantro, celery, parsley. These products can be added as desired.

For brine you will need:

1. 1liter of water.
2. 50 grams of s alt.
3. Clove and bay leaf - to taste.

Cooking steps

First of all, it is worth preparing the products. Chayote is recommended to be cut into pieces. Beans (shoulder blades) also need to be prepared by stripping the ends. It is desirable to cut the long ones into two parts. After that, the beans must be boiled for 5 minutes. Then the product should be cooled. In washed glass jars, put chayote mixed with beans. At the same time, the layers of vegetables need to be shifted with horseradish and garlic, as well as herbs.

Now you can prepare the brine. Pour water into the container, then add the remaining components. Cool the liquid and pour into jars. Containers with chayote can be left warm for five days. After the specified time, you can take a sample.

If desired, the Mexican cucumber can be rolled up. The technology is exactly the same as described in the recipe above.

Zucchini and Chayote

Mexican cucumber can be rolled up with zucchini. In this case, it is worth choosing the right products. In this case, for cooking you will need:

1. Young zucchini.
2. Mexican cucumber.
3. Fuck.
4. Garlic.
5. Green.

The brine is prepared in the same way as in previous recipes. Rolling technology does not change.

Cooking process

Zucchini and chayote must be completely decomposed into jars. In this case, the layers can be shifted with horseradish and garlic. If desired, zucchini can be replaced with pumpkin. It is desirable to take fruits small, the size ofmedium apple. It is worth noting that after s alting, the pumpkin is tasteless. Usually thrown away.

The cooled brine should be poured into jars with vegetables. After that, the containers should be left in a warm room for 5 days. If desired, products can be rolled up. The main thing is to carefully wrap the containers. Keep them warm for at least 5 hours.

Finally

Now you know how to cook Mexican cucumbers. The recipe for this dish is very simple. Chayote can be cooked with brown tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, cabbage and peppers. The technology remains virtually unchanged. If desired, you can cook assorted.

It is worth noting that Mexican cucumber can also be consumed raw. This product has a neutral taste. Therefore, it can be added to almost any salad. In addition, the vegetable is very juicy. Plant cuttings can be roasted. This dish tastes like mushrooms. In the leaves of the Mexican cucumber, many people wrap minced meat and cook cabbage rolls. Many vegetarians and raw foodists claim that chayote is delicious even when unripe.