Chokos are a nutritious and versatile fruit and, when in season, are plentiful and affordable. In fact, they are so plentiful that we sometimes wonder what to do with them!
Well, wonder no longer. Here, you'll find 16 fabulous choko recipes from around the globe to get you inspired. They range from simple to creative and cover both sweet and savoury dishes.
What are chokos?
Chokos, also known as chayote, vegetable pear, christophine or mango squash, are an edible plant belonging – like watermelon, squash and pumpkin – to the gourd family.
They grown on vines and are native to Central America but now grow well in warm climates around the world, including here in Australia.
Chokos are green and pear-shaped with a smooth or slightly wrinkled skin. They typically range in size from small to medium, similar to a large apple or pear.
Chokos are low in calories and a good source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, folate, potassium, and dietary fibre.
People sometimes describe the taste as a mix between a cucumber and a zucchini. The texture is somewhat starchy when raw but is tender when cooked.
Chokos sometimes get a bad rap here in Australia, but I reckon these recipes will convert the biggest choko sceptic into a choko lover.
Hot Savoury Choko Recipes
Baked Chokos
This is an easy way to turn chokos into a meal. Simply slice in half lengthways, remove seed and boil till tender (about 15 mins for medium chokos).Place in a baking tray and scoop out a little more from where the seed was. Fill with diced bacon, finely chopped tomato and grated cheese. Bake in a moderate oven for 20 minutes then enjoy while hot.
Creamy Choko Gratin
This tasty little side dish from Garlic & Zest was a recipe brought home from a Caribbean island holiday.
Named "gratin de christophines" in the Caribbean, the recipe is what I'd probably call a gratin. A Creamy Choko (or Chayote) Gratin. It may not sound as romantic, but it certainly sounds (and looks) mouthwatering.
Get Creamy Choko Gratin Recipe.
Choko Chips
Dare anyone to say they still hate chokos after sampling these!
These more-ish looking snacks were created by Janie Leigh, an LA-based food blogger.
Her location explains why she calls them "Chayote Squash Fries". Above, though, I've translated that name into Strayan: "Choko Chips"!
Get the Choko Chips recipe here.
Creamy Choko Soup
This is my own soup recipe, and is surprisingly delicious and nutritious. I make it often during choko season.
Made with just chokos and 5 additional ingredients.
Get the Choko Soup recipe here.
Choko Souffle
here's nothing quite as divine as a souffle. You've probably heard of Chocolate Souffle and Cheese Souffle. But what about Choko Souffle? This was the "Recipe of the Week" in The Maitland Mercury back in June 1937.
Vietnamese Chokos with Beef (Su Su Xao Thit Bo)
This stir fry recipe is from a US-based blogger who says it's one of her mum's recipes that is "delicious, easy, and nutritious."
Serve it up with some rice and that's dinner, done!
Get the Choko Stir Fry recipe here.
Spicy Choko Soup
This creamy soup recipe is not only quick and easy, it's also a low carb, vegan dish making it suitable for many appetites and lifestyles.
This recipe is from vegetarian food blogger Angela Coleby who lives in Saint Lucia, an Eastern Caribbean island nation.
Get the spicy soup recipe here.
Mexican Vegetable Soup
Add this warm and nutritious soup recipe to your list of winter favourites.
It's a simple recipe and includes suggested substitute ingredients to replace those that are harder to find outside of Mexico and the US.
Get the vege soup recipe here.
Choko and Potato Cutlets
Could this be the ultimate vegetarian recipe? Mock cutlets made with potatoes and chokos were on the menu back in June 1935 when this recipe was published in The Queenslander.
Choko Dumplings
Grated choko goes into these amazing little dumplings which are a regional specialty from the Eastern part of Nepal.
This recipe can be made with store-bought dumpling wrappers or the recipe provided by the recipe author.
Get the Choko Dumplings recipe here.
Cold Savoury Choko Recipes
Choko Salad
What, raw chokos?
Yes, you can eat chokos raw and this pretty salad from Aubrey's Kitchen delivers up a flavour-packed side or light meal. Or make up a big bowl for a BBQ day.
The recipe includes step-by-step instructions along with variation ideas.
Get the Choko Salad recipe here.
Choko Pickles
Perhaps the most popular choko recipe ever, Choko Pickles are packed with flavour and let you keep enjoying your chokos in the months ahead.
This recipe is based on the recipes shared by Aussie home cooks many, many decades ago.
Get this fab Choko Pickles recipe here.
Sweet Choko Recipes
Basic Boiled Chokos
Create a quick dish by peeling chokos, cutting into cubes and boiling for about 10 minutes or until tender.
For a sweet dish, add some sugar, honey, cloves and cinnamon to the boiling water. For savoury, boil in salted water and serve with butter and a little salt and pepper to taste.
Choko Tarte Tartin
Here, we've taken an old-fashioned "Mock Pear" recipe (made with chokos) from the pages of Nana Ling's handwritten recipes and used a traditional French Tarte Tartin recipe to come up with a truly special dessert.
Your guests will never guess they're eating chokos!
Get the Choko Tarte Tartin recipe here.
Choko Jam
In May 1942, this Choko Jam Recipe won the Daily Telegraph's prize: a "War Savings Certificate" for one pound.
Is it still a winner today?
Boil up a batch and let us know in the comments below.
Mock Pears
Nana Ling's Mock Pear recipe was a common one around at the time, 1941.
You simply peel, remove seed and chop choko into cubes and then boil in pineapple juice.
Serve it up with ice cream, yoghurt or use it as a pie filling.
Do you know another great way to enjoy chokos that isn't listed here?
Add your idea or recipe in the comments below! It’s such a help to others who are looking for choko recipes.
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CATHY R MASON
Roast chokos in the oven just like you do with roast potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, etc., Yummy!
Angela Teng
Chokos have a freshness to them similar to radish but without the pungent flavour, so it works in Asian recipes that call for radish.
Choko Clam Soup:
- 1 choko (diced)
- 500g clams (shell on)
- dashi/some sort of fish stock
- dried shrimp (optional)
- bird eye chilli (optional)
Put choko, dashi and dried shrimp into boiling water. Once reboiled put in clams. Season with salt, pepper to taste and add bird eye chilli.
Very easy and healing - the flavour comes from the clams
Margaret
Thanks for all ideas. We steam peeled choko, stir in melted butter with ginger powder or crystallised ginger pieces are nice addition. Also a white parsley sauce over steamed choko is nice change.
Libby Hakim
Nice - thanks for the extra ideas, Margaret. I have just come into a huge bag of chokos to hope to add some more to these ideas soon. Happy cooking!
Sylvia
love the recipe
Libby Hakim
Thanks, Sylvia - enjoy!
Susanne
Choko pie recipe
3 chokos
1 tin condensed milk
3 tablespoons custard powder
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup sugar
whipped cream to decorate
Peel and chop the chokos and cook until tender.
Drain well and mash or puree
Add lemon juice, sugar and custard powder and combine.
Place in a saucepan and stir over a low heat until mixture thickens.
Let cool and add condensed milk.
Fill cooked short crust pie shell.
Put in fridge to set.
When it is set spread whipped cream over the top.
Libby Hakim
Love this! thanks so much, Susanne!
Elizabeth
Choko chips: slice very thinly (using a mandolin slicer) dash of salt and pepper or flavouring of your choice and dehydrate on high in dehydrator or oven on low.
Libby Hakim
Love this idea! I'll try it when I can get my hands on some chokos again. Thanks, Elizabeth.
christopher
Go the Choko!
Recent conversation with my 91 yrs mum about how she introduced us to this in its1970's sort of revival. Not an immediate hit till conversations with grandparents and great aunties about its versatile, mimic and extender use, esp in WW2 days and post that, due to food restrictions and rationing. But also on its own.
And so get Eve's comment. Have always liked the simple butter and S&P prep.
Easy to grow esp here in QLD, and we did have a vine ourselves.
Interested in all your recipes but also loved your commenters info v much. Thanks to them.
Have only come across it in a restaurant as a part of a signature dish, once, just pre Covid in Melbourne, but so good.
Unfairly Under-represented Vegetable.
Mr Calwell
I have selected a few of these recipes to use with my intermediate cooking classes next week. Chokos run rampant on my property, and I have loads for the students to cook. We are going to cook the different dishes and then do a comparison of the different dishes.
Libby Hakim
Hi Mr Calwell. That's wonderful! I have some more chokos sitting on my kitchen bench so will be adding some more recipes soon, too. I hope the students enjoy the lesson. Cooking was always my favourite subject at school. Happy cooking!
Salma
Love chokos ! We steam them , mash them add washed fine cracked wear , salt pepper some flour , shape them and pan fry. Have them with tzatziki. Yum yum
Libby Hakim
Hi Salma - Lovely, I'll have to try them with tzatziki. Enjoy!
Sonja Langham
Cook 3 or 4 choko, strain, mash with 1/2 cup lemon or lime juice and 1/2 cup sugar thicken with 2Tbsps custard powder heat until thick. Pour into pastry tart shell. (I make my own with a little cinnamon added but I also use store bought cases) Refrigerate until set, serve with whipped cream and/or ice cream
Tastes like apple. No one will know it’s choko!!!!
Libby Hakim
Awesome! Thanks so much, Sonja 🙂
Eve
I’m 78 and I’ve been a choko lover all my life. Many’s the time I’ve gone into bat for chokos against choko haters. I love them cooked in butter with salt and pepper. I even eat baby chokos (seed and all) unpeeled. It is a wonderful vegetable. It goes in all my soups and stir frys and I love it baked coated in seasoned flour. I never go grocery shopping without buying a couple.
Libby Hakim
There should be more people like you, Eve! Keep enjoying your chokos x