Sechium Edule - More than just Chayote Squash

If like me, you grow pumpkins, squash, gourd sweet potato, eddoes canna and figs you have a whole world of flavour and nutrition right there in the leaves.

Sechium Edule is one of my favourite plants.

But I notice when I talk with many home growers here in the UK their focus all the growing season is on this time of year. From mid August onwards when the vines flower and they can harvest their first fruits.

We grow the plant for a full season of food. Highly nutritious, heart healthy, all parts are edible including the wonderful fleshy root (great roasted or in a stir fry) which increase in size year by year so well worth trying to overwinter, if like me you live in the UK.

For me the leaves are the real star of the show. Given the right conditions it will romp away. This year one plant has covered a large black elder and adjacent acer. This has given us a ready supply of leaves for
stir fries, to add to pancakes

 Aubergine and mushroom patties and one of my favorite and easy raw snacks well loved in our house but somehow never named.

 Using the leaves as a general veg is relatively uncomplicated. Just chop and go.

The leaves have a slightly rough texture unprepared so before using in baking, flatbread, pancakes or the no name dish we like to soften the texture.

We start by chopping finely then rub together until the liquid separate. At this point we like to squeeze out the liquid unless the purpose is soup or stew.

I love this liquid. It's a great addition to healthy drinks, to sauces and gravies.

The leaves are now an amazing palette that picks up and hold flavours a little like the squash itself. Our favorite method is to add yacon syrup, fermented wild garlic and a pinch of salt.  Well mixed in it is immediately edible but left overnight it is a delight.

While commercially grown Chayote available to buy as food in the UK is very unlikely to flower and fruit, they will grow and provide an endless supply of leaves until the frost. And you never know, the root might have swelled enough to be worth harvesting.