My father’s friend gave him some choko and my dad gave me some. I decided to fry it with pork balls to go with rice. It’s a strange vegetable. Google: “A choko is also known as chayote, also known as mirliton, güisquil, pipinola and choko, is an edible plant belonging to the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae. This fruit was first cultivated in the Mesoamericas between southern Mexico and Honduras, with the most genetic diversity available in both Mexico and Guatemala.”

The only way my mom know is frying them. Mom also said to choose a ripe choko, look for one that’s firm to the touch, between light and dark green in colour, and without any soft brown spots.

I added garlic, chicken stock and a dash of soy sauce, fish sauce, a bit of water and Shao Xing Chinese cooking wine. Choko is delicious and has its own pure sweetness. Choko can be eaten with rice and my friend told me can make it as wraps for rice paper rolls as well as spring rolls. Today, just concentrate on frying first. Let’s cook!!!

Ingredients

3 medium size choko
1/2 packet pork balls, cut to bite size
1 Tbs minced garlic
1 Tbs sugar
1 Tsp freshly ground pepper
2 Tbs fish sauce
2 Tbs Shao Xing Chinese cooking wine
3 Tbs oil
1 Tsp cornflour
water
dash of soy sauce

Method

Peel choko under cold running water or keep dipping the choko in a bowl of water while peeling. Alternatively wear gloves. Once they are peeled, cut them the same way you would cut a pear, so avoid cutting into the core. Chokos have a seed in the centre that shouldn’t be eaten. For frying, I like to cut them into chunky strips.

Heat oil in saucepan over high heat. Add garlic cook until fragrant about 30 seconds. Then add choko, toss around for about 4 minutes. Next add pork balls, fish sauce, sugar, and dashes of soy sauce. Stir then cover with lid and cook on medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Mix well cornflour with 2 Tbs of water until no lump and set aside.

Remove the lid, add Shao Xing, cornflour mixture and cooked for a further 2-3 minutes. Check for seasoning. Add a bit more soy sauce if needed. Switch off hob and transfer to a deep bowl. Serve with rice and a glass of white wine. Enjoy!!!!

https://helenscchin.com/2021/04/18/choko-and-pork-balls/

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