Sure! Get ready to embark on a culinary adventure with this delectable recipe for Baked Stuffed Mirlitons (also known as Chayote or Vegetable Pears). Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a kitchen novice, this dish promises to delight your taste buds with its savory flavors and satisfying textures. Bursting with the goodness of onions, garlic, ground pork, and butter, these stuffed mirlitons are bound to become a family favorite in no time.
Baked Stuffed Mirlitons Recipe
Ingredients:
- 3 chayotes
- 1 pound ground pork
- 3 onions
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 slices dry toast or stale bread
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs (for topping)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 403.6
- Fat: 22.3g
- Saturated Fat: 6.9g
- Cholesterol: 84.9mg
- Sodium: 225.4mg
- Carbohydrates: 26.4g
- Fiber: 3.4g
- Sugar: 5g
- Protein: 24.1g
Instructions:
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Preheat Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that your stuffed mirlitons bake evenly to perfection.
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Prepare Bread: Take the dry toast or stale bread slices and soak them in water. Once they are sufficiently soaked, squeeze out the excess water and set them aside. These will add a wonderful texture to your stuffing mixture.
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Prepare Mirlitons: Cut the chayotes (mirlitons) in half lengthwise and remove the seeds from the center. Boil them in water until they become tender. Once cooked, carefully scoop out the flesh from the center and mash or chop it, reserving the shells for stuffing later.
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Prepare Stuffing: In a skillet, sauté the onions and garlic until they become translucent and fragrant. Then, add the ground pork to the skillet and cook it until it turns a light brown color. This step infuses the stuffing with rich flavors.
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Combine Ingredients: To the skillet containing the cooked onions, garlic, and pork, add 1 cup of water. Allow the mixture to simmer gently, allowing the flavors to meld together beautifully. Next, add the drained and mashed/chopped chayote flesh, along with the soaked bread or toast. Mix everything together well, ensuring that all the ingredients are evenly incorporated.
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Season and Stuff: Season the stuffing mixture with salt and pepper according to your taste preferences. Then, carefully fill the reserved chayote shells with the prepared stuffing mixture, ensuring they are generously filled.
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Top and Bake: Sprinkle breadcrumbs over the stuffed mirlitons, and dot them with butter for a golden, crunchy topping. Place the stuffed mirlitons on a baking sheet or in a baking dish, and transfer them to the preheated oven.
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Bake to Perfection: Bake the stuffed mirlitons in the preheated oven for approximately 30 minutes, or until the breadcrumbs turn a beautiful golden brown color. This baking time allows the flavors to meld together while creating a deliciously crispy topping.
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Serve and Enjoy: Once baked to perfection, remove the stuffed mirlitons from the oven and allow them to cool slightly before serving. These savory delights are best enjoyed hot, straight from the oven, accompanied by your favorite side dishes or enjoyed on their own as a satisfying meal.
This Baked Stuffed Mirlitons recipe is a true culinary masterpiece, combining wholesome ingredients and simple cooking techniques to create a dish that’s sure to impress. Whether you’re cooking for a special occasion or simply craving a comforting meal, these stuffed mirlitons are guaranteed to satisfy your hunger and leave you craving more. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to indulge in a taste sensation like no other. Happy cooking! 🍽️
