Mirliton: A Louisiana Vegetable Delight

Introducing Mirliton: A Louisiana Vegetable Delight! This unique recipe transforms the versatile mirliton into a mouthwatering casserole.

With its blend of shrimp, ham, and seasonings, Mirliton offers a satisfying meal for any occasion.

Whether you choose to bake it fresh, refrigerate it for later, or freeze it for future enjoyment, this dish will surely delight your taste buds and leave you craving for more!

Ready Time

2 hrs 30 mins

Servings

9 servings

Ingredients

4 mirlitons (chayotes)
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 clove garlic, minced
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1/2 pound fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 pound cooked, cubed ham
1/2 egg
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs (Optional)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs for topping (Optional)

Instructions

To prepare the mirlitons, boil them until tender, then drain, cool, and peel them. Remove the seeds and cut them into cubes.
In a separate pot, boil the shrimp until cooked. Reserve the cooking water and drain the shrimp.
Preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (120 degrees Celsius.
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sauté the onion and garlic until softened. Transfer the mixture to a 9×13 inch baking dish.
Add the shrimp, ham, and cubed mirlitons to the baking dish. In a small bowl, whisk the egg with a tablespoon of the reserved shrimp cooking water and pour it into the baking dish.
Mix in the bread crumbs, parsley, thyme, salt, and pepper until evenly blended. If the mixture seems dry, add a little more shrimp cooking water as needed.
You can choose to freeze, refrigerate, or bake the casserole at this point.
If baking, sprinkle additional bread crumbs on top if desired and bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until golden brown on top.
Let the casserole cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your delicious Mirliton dish!