Savory sayote: Recipes for healthy sayote-based dishes from ‘Good News’

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Many Filipinos love eating sayote, but don’t know the English term for the vegetable. The generally accepted English name of sayote is in fact “chayote.” The vegetable belongs to the gourd family, along with cucumbers, squash and melons. This family of plant is known for its hard shells and tendril-bearing vines.

Sayote or chayote offers lots of nutritional value, including generous amounts of folate, fiber and Vitamin C. Because it works well in savory Filipino dishes like tinola and nilagang baboy (pork stew), we’ve come to love its delectable aroma and often serve it during family meals.

With the help of Chef Jay-jay Gatchalian of Celebrity Cuisines, “Good News” presents these healthy recipes that highlight sayote.

Sayote Curry and Tortilla Chips



Ingredients:
Onion, minced
Garlic, minced
Sayote, cut into small cubes
Chicken, chopped
Tortilla chips
Chili powder
Curry powder
Coconut milk

Directions:
In a pan, saute garlic and onion. Pour in the chopped chicken and sayote cubes. Add salt to taste. Cover the pan and let it simmer for three to four minutes.  Add in the coconut milk, chili powder and curry powder. Mix well. Cook covered for three minutes. Serve hot alongside tortilla chips.

Cost: P65 serves 2 to 3 persons

Mexican Stuffed Sayote



Ingredients:
Tomatoes
Mushrooms
Onion
Sayote
Cheese
Ground chicken
Black beans
Melted cheese

Directions:
Cut sayote in half. In boiling water with salt, blanch the pieces for 10 minutes. Trim the insides of sayote, as these will serve as the base or crust of the dish. Set aside.

In a pan, saute mushrooms, black beans and ground chicken. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cover the pan until the meat is cooked. For the sarsa or sauce, combine minced tomatoes and onion with tomato sauce in a hot pan.

Afterwards, fill the sayote halves with both mixtures. Add a pinch of salt and pepper then top with melted cheese. Serve.

Cost: P75 serves 2 to 3 persons

Creamy Sayote Wrap in Ensalada Sauce



Ingredients:
Corn kernels
Onions
Sayote, cut into small cubes
Tortilla wrap
Ground pork
Cream
Tomato sauce
Chili powder
4 tbsps. water

Directions:
Saute garlic and onion in a pan. Add the ground pork, sayote cubes and water. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cover the pan and cook until meat and sayote are tender. Pour in the corn kernels and cream. Mix the ingredients well.

For the ensalada sauce, simmer tomato sauce and chili powder for two to three minutes.

Place the sayote mixture in tortilla wrappers. Roll. Top with ensalada sauce and melted cheese.

Cost: P65 serves 2 to 3 persons

Sweetened Sayote Ice Cream



Ingredients:
Raisins
Sayote, cut into cubes
Brown sugar
Butter
Cinnamon
Vanilla ice cream

Directions:

In a pan, combine sayote cubes and brown sugar. Mix until the sugar melts. For extra taste, add in butter and raisins. Put the mixture in glass cups, then top with vanilla ice cream.

Cost: P55 serves 2 to 3 persons

—Donna Allanigue/PF, GMA News

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Tasty Tomatoes: Affordable and healthy tomato-based recipes
Easy-to-prepare recipes for healthy corn-based dishes
Healthy recipes featuring flavorful ginger
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