Thanks to Ivy of Simply Beautiful and Healthy Living, now I know that this funny looking vegetable is called Chayote Shoots or Dragon Whiskers. I used to see this weird looking vegetable at the supermarket aisle and it reminded me of the alien in Predator. I think it is the curly tendrils that made this vegetable look so alien-like to me.
I also see Chayote Shoots sold at the "chap fan" (mixed rice) stall but I did not dare to try it lest I might not like the taste. But after reading Ivy's post, I was convinced that I would enjoy this nutritious green vegetable just as I do any greens. I love green leafy vegetables simply stir fried with garlic and salt.
I followed Ivy's recipe except that I pounded the dried prawns with the garlic and chillies. I find that Chayote Shoots have a tougher texture unlike spinach or mustard greens and therefore need slightly longer cooking time. The stems at the lower end are tough and fibrous and I discarded them.
I will have to agree with Ivy that this vegetable is indeed very tasty! And I am no longer afraid of it :) Ivy mentioned that it has anti-inflammatory properties and that should be good for me as my doctor prescribed me with anti-inflammatory medication to heal my slipped disc. Better to go the natural way than taking prescription drugs. I'll be looking out for this curious looking Chayote Shoots again at Aeon. I think it would also be delicious fried with belacan. Can't wait to try that!
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I'm so fascinated with the curlies.
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Stir Fried Chayote Shoots
Recipe source : Adapted from Ivy of Simply Beautiful and Healthy Living
Ingredients :
- 1 bunch Chayote Shoots (250g), tough stems removed
- 5 big cloves garlic (I love my garlic!)
- 1 red cili padi
- 1 heaped tablespoon dried prawns (soaked and rinsed)
- Fish sauce or salt to taste
- extra cili padi, sliced for garnishing
Method :
1. Wash and rinse Chayote Shoots and cut to desired length.
2. Pound garlic, dried prawns and cili padi.
3. Heat oil in wok and saute the pounded ingredients until aromatic.
4. Add the Chayote Shoots and sprinkle some water for moisture.
5. Stir fry until the vegetable is tender. Season with salt or fish sauce to taste.
6. Serve immediately.
Note : I covered the vegetable to let simmer and stirred every now and then till tender.
vorrei tanto assaggiare questa verdura che non conosco!!!
ReplyDeleteMammalotita, non credo che si possa trovare questo vegetale in Italia. Grazie per essere venuti!
Deletethis reminds me of kang kong... whatever... your dish just made me salivate!!
ReplyDeleteVictoria, it is more fibrous than kangkong and I had to simmer it quiet a bit. But tasted very good!
DeleteHi Phong Hong, thanks so much for mentioning. Wow, you are indeed very rajin when come to cooking. I just hate the pounding unless I am very free. Yes, try it with sambal belacan the next round. It's very delicious and you will fell in love in it!!! Yours look exceptionally yummy with the pounded dried shrimps. Do take care of your slipped disc and wishing you speedy recovery. Cheers :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ivy! If I didn't learn from you, I would have missed out on this yummy vege. Kak Q did a belacan version and I am even more tempted to try it!
DeleteI never tasted Chayote Shoots before but I do love the Chayote squash this must be really good. I wanna try this one sometime. Thanks for sharing the recipe:)
ReplyDeleteHi Melgie! I just found out how the Chayote squash looks like and I have seen it so often at the supermarket. I should try that next!
DeleteHi Ph..apa khabar.Lama Cm tak singgah di blog Ph ni kerana kesibukan yang memanjang...panjang je sibuk :)
ReplyDeleteselalunya Cm makan buahnya (labu Siam) belum pernah makan pucuknya.nanti jika terjumpa kat pasar bolehlah mencubanya.Namak seakan akan pucuk labu .
***Nampak***
ReplyDeleteHi CM! Khabar baik! PH tak pernah pulak makan buahnya - kena cuba ni!
DeletePH sayang! you betul2 buat akak ketawa terbahak2! hey, kita masak sayur yg sama, I am about to post the same dish la! arhahaha....kelakar la, kalau kita berjiran, let say kita tukar2 lauk, sekali tu bila tengok dalam mangkuk, alamak! sayur yg sama! ahahaha...
ReplyDeleteyou ni sama macam akak, dulu akak selalu tengok sayur ni dari jauh jer...nampak macam pucuk labu tapi bila tengok dekat2 bukan pucuk labu...pucuk labu sedap masak lemak putih tau! bila akak tanya kat pekerja kat pasar tu, depa ckp tu sayur fav orang Vietnam, terus la akak tak berani nak berangan makan...mana tau nanti tergolek terlentang macam mabuk kaduk dulu, kan? dulu2 muda lagi boleh la panjang umur, ni dah veteran....cewah...takut mati pulak hak3
sekali tu bila nampak ivy masak, akak macam...biar betul si ivy nih? hihihi
hari ni pulak nampak PH dah masak, akak pun hahaha...kelakar pulak rasanya...
tapi tengok ni...akak tak mabuk punnnnn...........
thank you ivy...kan PH kan?
Hah! Hah! Kak Q, PH pun first time tengok sayur nih rasa seram sikit. Tak tau lah mungkin sebab dia ada benda yang kerinting-kerinting tu. Ya lah, terima kasih kepada Ivy, kita berdua dah konfiden makan sayur pelik ni. Bila dah tengok gambar link kat blog Kak Q, barulah PH sedar yang PH pernah nampak labu Chayote. Rupa macam jambu batu. Itu pun PH tak berani nak beli dan cuba tapi sekarang ni boleh lah buat eksperimen :)
DeleteThis vege is new to mee. I think I see it in the market. Got to try once get the vege :)
ReplyDeleteVivian, hope you can find and try. It is easy to identify from the curly tendrils.
DeleteHi Phong Hong, This vege very interesting, love the curlies. I yet to see this vege in the market, next time must look around when I do my marketing. Yours look inviting and delicious.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice week ahead.
Hi Amelia! If you do find this vegetable, try it with belacan they way Kak Q does it. I am going to try it soon. Have a good weekend!
DeleteThis sounds so new and healthy to me
ReplyDeleteHi Vimitha, I wonder if you can find this vege at the Asian market :)
DeleteLove this veggie dish! I have tried Chayote but not the shoots. They look really delicious.
ReplyDeleteHi Mich! I have yet to try the Chayote. I am sure it is good. Will experiment one day :)
DeleteNot sure if I know what they are and not sure if I've seen that before...but I love all greens!!!
ReplyDeleteArthur, they might be available at the market. Got mine at the supermarket and noted that it is labelled as "pucuk labu".
Deletelooks delicious....just mouthwatering!
ReplyDeleteHi Kalyan! It is a good vege :)
DeleteHi, Phong Hong. I have never seen this chayote shoots before. I must go and look for it!
ReplyDeleteJozelyn, hope you can find it and try. Very nice lah!
DeleteI've seen this veggie at the Asian supermarket but never knew what it was. Now I know. Thanks for the introduction :)
ReplyDeleteGertrude, you should try it one day. It is very delicious and a good addition to our regular greens :)
DeleteHi PH, eh I never see this vegetable before but u got me intrigued :)
ReplyDeleteYen, can get at Aeon! One day you find it and try it. Very nice!
DeleteI love this green but it has been a long time since i have eaten them. I look out for them in Aeon since you mentioned that's where you found it. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOh, you have eaten it before? Yah, do look for it because I enjoyed it a lot!
DeleteI have cook this vege before Ivy cook this. but i also don know what its name, and Ivy let me know that name also.
ReplyDeleteWah, xing hui you have eaten it before and you know how good it is! Now I will buy it more often as I like it very much.
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ReplyDeletePhong Hong, this veggie is easy to find in my hometown but in KL only sell at those organic shop. I also use the same method like you to cook this, yummy!!!!
DeleteEsther, I agree it is yummy! Try to look for it at Aeon. I am sure they can be found at the market too.
DeleteHi PH, I have not see this vegetable before. Looks unique to me.
ReplyDeleteHi Cecilia! It was so unique that initially I was scared of it. But now, I love it!
DeleteHi Phong Hong,
ReplyDeleteHave seen it at Ivy's, and I've got to give it a try too!
Joyce, do try as it is delicious! And I won't be surprised if you will try to grow it too :)
DeleteYum! I love the color of this vegetable, I can't believe I have never heard of it before! This looks great!
ReplyDeleteCathleen, perhaps you could find it at the Asian market. It is good for you, so eat your greens!
DeletePhong Hong, for a moment I thought I was on Ivy's blog...seeing the gorgeous green chayote shoots. You did a superb adaptation, and made it your own. Healthy and delicious! xo
ReplyDeleteThanks, Elisabeth! I an sure glad that Ivy featured this green yummy vege and now I have another addition to my favorite greens :)
DeleteI always see Arthur ordering this vegetable dish when he eats out but I have never tried this before! Me Sua Ku!
ReplyDeleteAlvin, the vege that Arthur likes is different. That one is midin, a wild fern whereas this one is the shoots of the Chayote gourd. You not sua ku lah, you are too sophisticated - wine, truffles, and all the classy fine dining stuff hah! hah! This is kampung food :)
DeleteI like to cook this veggie with ikan bilis, and my mom taught me to add more cooking oil when cook this veggie, it taste nicer wor!
ReplyDeleteSonia, OK next time I add more oil and put ikan bilis!
DeleteExcellent Explanation on Chayote with images.Sure i will share to my friends
ReplyDelete