The last couple of times I went grocery shopping, I ended up at the Hmong farmers’ market. Where I live there is a huge Hmong community and they are by far the biggest presence at Farmers’ markets all around the cities. However, farmers’ markets are close during this season, but, as it turns out, Hmong markets are not. So I ventured to one of the Hmong markets hunting for vegetables.
As you can imagine, not everything at the Hmong market is your main stream vegetable. And I am attracted to new stuff. So on the trip I collected some bitter melon and some chayotes, as well as other more familiar things like broccoli rabe, limes and mangoes.
I had no idea what to do with it, but turns out chayote are very similar to a sweet and very mild zucchini. Bitter melon on the other hand are very bitter and more difficult to work with. I like them, but BF really didn’t care for them…. Anyway, back to the chayotes.
Since chayote is very similar to zucchini but much milder, I decided to cook it in a frittata. I added in the pancetta (bacon would work as well) to lend the frittata a bit more flavor and paired it with cheese because you always need a bit of cheese and milk in frittata to keep them soft and delicious (plus who can resist cheese?). This fritata is great both hot and cold and can be enjoyed for a light lunch, an appetizer or a Sunday brunch (or anything else you fancy).
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1 chayote
- 1/4 cup diced pancetta or bacon
- 1/4 cup diced mild cheese (I used Syrian cheese, but mozzarella or queso fresco should also work well)
- 2 tbsp milk
- salt
- pepper
- olive oil
Directions
- In a warm pan, cook the pancetta (or bacon) until it starts rendering its fat. Meanwhile clean the chayote by opening it and getting out its whitish core. Dice it to the same size of the pancetta and the cheese.
- Consider how much fat was rendered by the pancetta. If it is just enough to cover the bottom don't add any oil, if is less add enough oil that the bottom of the pan is coated, if you have oodles of fat, drain part of it and keep only the fat you need.
- Add the diced chayote to the pan, season it with salt and let cook for about 10 minutes or until soft.
- Meanwhile in a bowl, break the eggs and beat them well with the milk a pinch of salt and a pinch of pepper (mine are usually more like 2 pinches of pepper because I like it). When the eggs are well mixed, add the diced cheese.
- When the chayote is cooked, spread it evenly in the pan and pour the egg mixture over it. Swirl around like you would do for a pancake to make sure the eggs are uniformly distributed and let cook for a minute or two.
- To finish cooking you have 3 options: 1) turn the heat on low and cover with a lid so that the steam can cook the top of the frittata, 2) using a lid or your magician ability of flipping things in the air and flip the frittata to cook the second side, 3) place the pan in a 375F oven for about 10 minutes or until center of the frittata is set.
- My favorite method is the oven. The frittata cooks evenly and I don't have to worry about making a mess when trying to flip it, so I suggest you use that. however if you flip pancakes in the air every day, you can give a try to flipping the frittata in the air: it never fails to impress whoever is watching!
- This frittata is good both warm or cold.
Hi! I'm PolaM, the Italian cooking in the Midwest.
I enjoy using chayote as ingredient in cooking, typically in stews, soups, and even stir-fries! Next, I shall try it in a frittata! Thanks to your inspiration.
This is one of the instances in which I try to cook with some unfamiliar ingredients and end up with a very familiar recipe…
Wow, so cool that you have Hmong farmers markets! I don’t know that I’ve ever had chayote but this frittata looks amazing.
I also had it for the first time recently.. but it is a pretty easy ingredient to work with!
Amazing!!!!!!Great dish Pola, and so delicious looking! Love the combination!!!!!
Sandra’s Easy Cooking recently posted..Risotto with Chicken & Saffron
The chayote works great in the frittata because it stays crunchy!
This frittata looks amazing!! I have never cooked with chayote. Now I’m going to be on the look out for it at my store.
Have a great week! ~ Ramona
Ramona recently posted..Thai Basil Shrimp (Salad)
It was one of my first times too, but it is quite easy to work with!
Oooh, I love this twist on chayote!
I adore a good frittata, and I can just imagine the crunch this might add. Great idea!
Kiri W. recently posted..Chayote – A Vegetable Pear?
We use chayote a lot in Filipino cusine but nothing like that, you certainly added some more interesting ways to use that vegetable
Raymund recently posted..Cassava Cake
How fascinating are those ingredients!
It looks fantastic too!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella recently posted..Win 1 of 10 Double Passes to Romantics Anonymous!
Thanks! I like playing with new ingredients. I find it keeps cooking fun!
It would make a great breakfast! Love chayote!
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Cantaloupe Ribbons and Chorizo Salad
I have to say I prefer zucchini, but chayote is a good new discovery!
i think i’ve seen chayote at one of the little markets in town…and i’ve never known what to do with it. thanks for posting this, now i’ll be able to make this next time i see chayote
Jenn and Seth (@HomeSkilletCook) recently posted..Baked Pork Flower Dumplings with Soy Ginger Dipping Sauce
I didn’t know how to use it either, but It really is very similar to zucchini, so just use it the way you would use a zucchini….
Delicious frittata! Looks super easy and quick for a weekday breakfast.
If you like eggs for breakfast, frittate are the perfect solution! Prepare one the night before and enjoy cold before leaving the house. And breakfast is done!
I had to go and read up on who the Hmong after this post. And I learned about some new veggies.
Never stop learning, right?!
This looks really good. I don’t like bitter melon at all so I don’t think that would be for me.
Maureen @ Orgasmic Chef recently posted..Food Writer Fridays – Rebecca Subbiah from ChowandChatter.com
I like bitter melon, but i think I still have to discover the best way of cooking it… Chayote on he other hand is very easy to work with!
Great post. Don’t know if I can get them here in the UK…. what would you recommend as a substitute?
Simone Woods recently posted..Courgettes (Zucchini) Fritters – Easy Recipe
Zucchini would be the obvious choice.
Excellent this frittata. Very colourful and surely very tasty! Ciao!
Thanks! I found it pretty with the green and the yellow and the pink… and it was tasty too!
PolaM recently posted..Chayote Frittata
Chayotes are new to me – I like new too. I’ll google it
This recipe looks very tasty. I usually do my frittatas half stove top, half oven. I’m not into flipping – that sounds like a bad idea for me. Ha!
They are very similar to zucchini in texture, but they are a bit sweeter and a bit less intenmse in flavor
PolaM recently posted..Chayote Frittata
What a great frittata!
Marina recently posted..The Sun
Thanks. Frittate are a great and often forgotten meal… and they can look very good too!
Adoro la frittata e la tua deve essere veramente gustosa, complimenti!
Un abbraccio e buon fine settimana!
beh secondo me le zucchine sono meglio del chayote, ma la frittata non era male per nulla
PolaM recently posted..Chayote Frittata
So pretty – and it sounds delish!
Oh it was pretty darn good!