6 benefits of chayote (with recipes included)

The chayote, also known as chayota or chayote, has a neutral flavor, as it combines with all foods; in addition, it is excellent for health because it is rich in fiber and water, which is why it contributes to improving intestinal transit, deflating the abdomen and improving the skin.

Asimismo, the chayote contains few calories and, therefore, it is an excellent option to favor the loss of weight, being able to use in cream of vegetables at the time of cooking or being cooked with herbs to add in an ensalada, for example.

In this way, the main benefits of chayote for health could be the following:

• Improve the health of the skin, it is rich in vitamin C, which exerts an antioxidant action;
• Combat the stress, for being rich in fibers and in water that help the formation of the heces;
• It’s good for diabetes, it is a food with a low glycemic index due to its fiber content;
• help slimming, because it contains few calories and practically no amount of fat;
• Contribute to stop the bleeding of heridas, thanks to its content of vitamin K, which is important for the healing of blood vessels;
• It’s good for the riñones, for being rich in water, which improves the production of orina and exercise a diuretic action.

Another benefit of chayote is that it serves to hydrate people lying in bed who find it difficult to drink water because they have to. In this case, it is enough to cook the chayote and offer it in trocitos a la persona.

nutritional information

The following table shows the nutritional information of 100 g of chayote:

It is important to mention that, to obtain all the benefits mentioned above, the chayote must be ingested together with a balanced and healthy diet.

Recipes with chayote

Some healthy recipes to prepare with chayote son:

1. Sauteed Chayote

Ingredients

• 2 medium chayotes
• 1 onion
• 3 garlic teeth
• 1 stalk of puerro (ajo porro)
• olive oil
• To season: salt, pepper and oregano to taste

preparation method

Peel and shred the chayote using a heavy grater and reserve. Then, cut the onion in thin juliennes and suffer with olive oil and cook in a high-edge pan. When the ingredients are golden, add the grated chayote and the condiments to taste. Dejar in the fire for approximately 5 to 10 minutes.

2. Gratin Chayote

Ingredients

• 3 medium chayotes
• 1/3 cup grated cheese for masa
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 200 ml crème de leche (cream)
• 3 huevos
• To season: salt, black pepper and perejil al gusto
• queso mozzarella to brown

preparation method

Cut the chayotes in pieces and reserve. Mix all the other ingredients until a homogeneous cream is formed and, then, add the chayotes. Place the mixture in a greased mold with butter or margarine and sprinkle with the cheese mozzarella. Con el horno precalentado, horn for approximately 30 minutes. Check if the chayote is blando, and when it arrives at this point, it means that the food is ready.

One curiosity about el chayote is that menudo is used as a pastel del guinda. In this case, it is added in the form of balls in a cherry pot so that it absorbs its flavor and can be used more economically as a substitute for cherry.