Hatch New Mexico Chile Green Chile Recipes

Chayote Chowder

Chayote
What the heck is a Chayote?
The chayote (rhymes with "coyote" is a light-green, crinkly-ended relative of the zucchini squash. It's also sometimes called the "Mirliton". It has a light, fresh flavor and texture, quite different from its squash relatives, and is excellent baked, raw in salads, or as an addition to soups or stews, as in the following recipe.

Chayote Chowder
Chayote Chowder
2 T butter
4 chayote squash, peeled, seeded, cubed
2 med. onions, chopped
2 jalapeno peppers, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c flour
4 c chicken stock
2 c corn kernels
2 c chopped green chile
2 c milk
1/2 t salt
1 t cumin
1/2 t chile powder
2 T lime juice
Grated cheddar cheese and crumbled cooked
bacon for garnish

In a soup pot, saute the squash, onion, peppers, and garlic in butter for about 5 minutes. Add the broth, corn, chile, milk, salt, cumin,and chile powder. Simmer for 45 minutes. When ready to serve, add the lime juice and ladle into bowls.
Garnish with grated cheese and crumbled bacon.
Makes 8 servings