A Deliciously Tasty Chayote Squash Soup Recipe

Nothing warms the body like a steaming bowl of soup during cold, damp seasons. Unfortunately, no matter how many soup recipes you try, boredom always sneaks in and can leave your soup cravings unsatisfied. The perfect way to get excited about your soup again is to make a chayote squash soup recipe.

What Is Chayote Squash?

While this squash is now grown worldwide, its origin is in Mexico. Other cultures have taken this delectable gourd and adapted their own recipes to incorporate its health benefits into their diets.

Chayote squash is also known as mango squash, vegetable pear, choko, Mexican pear squash, cho-cho, mirliton, and many others. They grow on vines and are pear-shaped, accounting for some of the names they can be called. Its skin is bumpy, and the flesh encases a single, big pit.

This gourd’s flavor is mild, allowing it to add a subtle coolness to whatever dish it’s included in. The raw texture is comparable to eating a hard, crunchy pear.

Are There Any Health Benefits to Eating Chayote Squash?

According to Healthline.com, there are many nutritional reasons to eat this squash! They include:

• They are packed with nutrients (especially folate)
• This gourd is low in calories, carbs, sodium, and fat
• Contains powerful antioxidants
• It has nutrients that appear to improve blood flow and may support heart health
• It’s loaded with fiber which can help lower blood sugar
• The fruit has the nutrition that supports pregnancies
• It contains specific compounds that may curb the growth of some cancer cells (according to early studies)
• Having the potential to slow down certain signs of aging
• It may be able to improve fatty liver function
• Lots of fiber means feeling fuller faster and longer, possibly leading to weight loss
• It helps with digestion through flavonoids

A subtle, cool yet sweet taste combined with several health benefits makes chayote squash an exciting addition to any dish. Adding it to a soup can take it from just okay to absolutely delicious!

Where Can I Buy Chayote Squash?

Depending on where you live and the kind of grocery stores you have, you might have it right in your local produce section. If not, check out your local farmer’s market. You can always ask if your grocer or local farmer knows where you can buy it.

If you can find some locally, Savory Experiments advises that you pick squashes with smooth, taught, and bright green skin. There should be grooves around where it grows on the vines, but too many wrinkles mean you’ll want to pass on that particular squash.

Here’s a Yummy, Tasty Chayote Squash Soup Recipe

When starting off with a new ingredient in any dish, it’s best to follow a simple recipe. Then you’re guaranteed to be able to see how your new creation tastes and then adjust it to your liking from there.

Here’s a great, simple chayote squash soup recipe that’s delectable and nutritious!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of hot water
• 2 cubes of chicken bouillon (if preferred, use 2 cups of vegetable or chicken broth in place of bouillon and hot water)
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 yellow onion, minced
• ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped (optional but strongly recommended)
• 2 chayote squashes, peeled and cubed into ½-inch pieces
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. If using water and bouillon, dissolve the cubes in hot water and set aside.
2. In a large saucepan, melt your butter over medium heat
3. . (Butter should melt fast – be careful not to burn it!)
4. Add the onion, garlic, and red pepper to the butter and stir until the onion becomes soft.
5. Add the squash, salt, and pepper. Stir for five minutes.
6. Whether using broth or the bouillon and water mixture, add your liquid to the saucepan.
7. Add the cilantro if using, and cover the pot.
8. Allow the soup to simmer for around 20 minutes.
9. Remove the soup from the heat and allow it to cool slightly.
10. Once the soup is safe to handle, puree it in a blender until it becomes your preferred texture. Return the soup to the saucepan to reheat it if necessary.
11. Pour the soup into bowls. Garnish with cilantro if desired.

While this is a basic chayote soup recipe, it’s absolutely out of this world scrumptious! Remember that you can add or remove ingredients for your taste preferences. You can also use a manual potato masher if you don’t want to use a blender!

Surprisingly Delicious Add-Ins for Your Chayote Squash Soup

Even the most passionate soup enjoyer wants to shake things up occasionally. You can keep just about any soup fresh when you leave out or add ingredients to personalize or give it new depths of flavor!

Here are some popular add-ins people around the world have loved in their chayote squash soup recipes:

• Fresh ginger
• Yellow bell peppers
• Sour cream
• Roux (made from flour and butter to thicken the soup)
• Heavy cream
• Small pear cubes
• Serrano peppers
• Cubed white potatoes
• Chopped mint leaves
• Jalapeno peppers
• Chicken (thighs or breasts, cut into small bites)
• Fish sauce
• Sugar (no more than a teaspoon or two – it can make it too sweet!)
• Carrots
• Celery
• Goji berries
• Mushrooms
• Shrimp (small or minced)
• Shallots or green onions
• Lemongrass
• Corn
• Pungent cheese
• Pepitas
• Red or black beans
• Lime juice
• Tomatoes
• Rice

Not only can you add your own ingredients to your soup, but you can also change how you prepare and use the chayote squash.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. If you have the inclination, you can pickle your chayote! Simply add it to a boiled mixture of vinegar, your preferred spices, onions, and sugar. Add the chayote in sticks, and after the brine is cool enough, place it in the fridge to let the brine pickle.
2. Spiralize your chayote and add it to your soup just as you would noodles.
3. Bake or roast your chayote with salt and pepper. You won’t want to blend or puree your soup if you do this, especially if you roasted it. The flavor and texture of your chayote will be best in its cooked cube form.
4. Sautee your squash with onions and garlic if desired! Don’t walk away from the pan, though. It can cook through faster than you think!
5. If you’re firing up the grill, consider grilling your squash! Cut the chayote into thick slices or put spears on some skewers. Cover them in oil and any seasonings you want and grill for about 10 to 15 minutes.

If you have an idea about how you’d like to cook your chayote squash, try it! Start small if you’re unsure about your method. You’ll see that it’s a pretty versatile fruit once you get to know it.

Enjoy Your Delectable Chayote Squash Soup No Matter How You Make It

When trying a new recipe, using the ingredients and instructions provided for the first time is a good idea. Once you get the hang of it, you may decide you love it as-is!

For those who love to transform their favorite recipes time and again, use the ideas for add-ins here or come up with your own. Either way, you’re going to love your new chayote soup recipe.

You can also read:

• How to Make McAlister’s Autumn Squash Soup Recipe at Home
• How to Make The Weight Watchers Butternut Squash Soup Recipe
• A Deliciously Tasty Honeynut Squash Soup Recipe
• A Deliciously Tasty Squash Blossom Soup Recipe
• A Deliciously Tasty Liver Cleanse Soup Recipe