Stuffed Christophene

Only today I have a different opinion about this particular vegetable known as chayote or carribean squash or referred simply as labu siam by the Indonesians, I always think it as a common vegetable. You know - the kind of veggies that tend to be oversupplied in the market, always served as home cooking meals or warteg, never made it to elegant fine dining resto served as sexy cuisine.

The fact that it actually has a more exotic name in English - and is believed to be the staple food of the Aztecs & Mayans, and there’s more interesting ways turning them into a delicacy rather than a homely stir-fried, gave me more than enough reasons to bring this baby into my kitchen. If you’d like to know more about chayote,

please click here

Ingredients:
* 3 pcs of christophene - or labu siam, cut & wash in water + salt
* 1 pc of large onion, finely chopped
* 300 gram of lean minced beef
* 5 pcs of garlic, minced or grated
* 3 red chilis (can be subs by red bell pepper) finely chopped
* a handful of red cherry tomatoes
* 1/2 tsp dried oregano
* 1/2 tsp cumin powder
* half cup of raisins - I use red cranberries that gives a hint of beautiful soury flavour
* half cup grated cheese - I use vintage cheese and cream cheese
* 2 tbs of bread crumbs to add consistency

Cooking Directions:
1.) Half cook the christophene for 15-20 mnts, until tender
2.) Remove the seed, scoop out the flesh using spoon, set the shell aside ready for filling.
2.) Stir in chopped onions + garlic until fragrant. Add minced beef, cook till lightly brown
4.) Add chopped tomatoes, oregano, cumin powder, chilis/bell pepper
5.) Lastly add grated cheese, bread crumbs, raisins. Mix well
6.) Scoop fillings into christophene shells. Sprinkle with grated cheese.
7.) Oven bake for 10 mnts or less. Ready to serve

**Recipes from KitchenLink