Tayota – Chayote

Tayota is a tropical squash originally from Mexico, but now grown in most tropical regions of the world. The skin is green and prickly. The texture of the meat is similar to that of the summer squash and has an edible seed in the center. It can be stuffed, boiled and served hot as a squash, or cold in salads. There  Mexican has little thorns on the outside while the Caribbean variety is smooth. But I believe they are both identical cooked. Mexicans eat the vine flowers as well.