This keto recipe, New Orleans Stuffed Mirlitons, also called Stuffed Chayote, is an easy keto recipe that uses chayote squash, shrimp and ham. This keto stuffed chayote recipe has been adapted from Charlie Andrews’ version (link below), to be a keto, grain and gluten free version of one of New Orleans’ most popular recipes, especially made during the holidays. However, the chayote squash, which is a fruit native to Mexico, is also very popular in the southern states such as Louisiana where it is called a mirliton. Other names for chayote squash are christophene or christophine, cho-cho, mirliton or merleton, chuchu, cidra, guatila, centinarja, pipinola, pear squash, vegetable pear, chouchoute, choko, güisquil, labu siam, ishkus or chowchow, pataste, or tayota. WOW, so many names! But a chayote by any other name is great to cook with, because of its light taste, and that it takes on the flavour of the other ingredients you are using in your keto recipe. Chayote is versatile and sautéed chayote is a great side dish that complements just about any main protein.
Nutritionally, chayote squash is a wonderful, low carb, keto, diabetic diet, Banting diet ingredient because it is low calorie, low carb and high in fiber. Chayote is also high in vitamins C, B9 (folate) & B6, vitamin K, and high in minerals such as manganese, copper, zinc, potassium and magnesium.

By Angela Wilkes