Chayote

A member of the squash family, chayote is popular in cuisines from Asia to Latin America to the Southern United States. The mild flavour of the fruit – which can be cooked without peeling the skin – is complemented by spices, and creative recipes abound for its use in stews, sautés, sauces, and mash. The seeds and tubers are also edible, and the leaves infused in a tea have been cited as a treatment for kidney stones, arteriosclerosis, and hypertension, having purported diuretic, cardiovascular, and anti-inflammatory properties.