Welcome to the ultimate guide for cooking the delectable "New Orleans Stuffed Mirlitons," a dish that embodies the vibrant culinary heritage of Louisiana. Mirlitons, also known as chayotes, are a versatile vegetable often used in Creole and Cajun cuisine. This article will take you on a culinary journey as we explore the secrets behind creating the perfect stuffed mirliton, a dish that has become a staple in New Orleans cuisine. Get ready to tantalize your taste buds as we delve into the world of stuffed mirlitons, offering tips, tricks, and a diverse collection of mouthwatering recipes.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
NEW ORLEANS STUFFED MIRLITON RECIPE - (4/5)
Provided by JimMac
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Pierce mirlitons with a fork. Place in a Dutch oven; cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes or until tender. Drain and cool. Cut mirlitons in half lengthwise; discard seeds. Scoop out pulp, leaving a 1/4-inch-thick shell. Chop pulp; place in a large bowl. Preheat oven to 375°. Melt butter in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook 6 minutes or until onion is tender. Add onion mixture, crawfish, and remaining ingredients (I added 1/4 cup of Parmesan Cheese to the mixture for extra flavor; stir to combine. Spoon about 1/2 cup crawfish mixture into each shell; place stuffed mirlitons on a baking sheet. Bake at 375° for 30 minutes or until crawfish mixture is thoroughly heated and golden. Yield 8 servings (serving size: 1 mirliton half)
SHRIMP-STUFFED MIRLITON
Mirliton -- also known as chayote -- is a light green, slightly pear-shaped squash that's a staple in Louisiana. This crab and shrimp-stuffed version is a dish often found in restaurants. Go to a specialty supermarket to hunt down the squash and celebrate your next holiday New Orleans style.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 2h15m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Put the mirliton halves cut-side down in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Add 1 cup of water, cover tightly with foil and bake until soft, cooked through and easily poked with a fork, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Set aside until cool enough to handle, about 20 minutes. (Leave the oven on.) Scoop out the pulp--making sure to leave a 1/4-inch border all around--then chop the pulp and reserve. Discard the water from the baking dish and return the scooped-out mirliton halves cut-side down.
- Meanwhile, melt 6 tablespoons of the butter with the Cajun seasoning in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the celery, garlic, bell pepper, onion and 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft and just begin to brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the sausage, hot sauce and tomatoes and cook, stirring, until the sausage is warmed through and the tomatoes start to release their juices, about 3 minutes. Add the crab, shrimp and reserved mirliton pulp and continue cooking until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Microwave the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a small microwave-safe dish until melted, about 30 seconds. Add the breadcrumbs and parsley and stir until well combined.
- Turn each mirliton half over so the cut side is facing up. Stuff each with about 1/2 cup of the crab and shrimp mixture--it will seem like a lot, but that's OK. Sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture and bake until the shrimp are cooked through and the breadcrumbs turn a deep golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve with additional hot sauce if desired.
SEAFOOD-STUFFED MIRLITON/CHAYOTE
A fairly simple and very authentic Creole recipe from New Orleans that I ate at the late, great Ugelsich's restaurant. (They prepared it with eggplant rather than chayote -- they're equally delicious.) Use crab meat or shrimp or a mixture of both. Two chayote halves are a good light entree, or one half is right for a side dish.
Provided by fluffernutter
Categories Crab
Time 1h5m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Steam or boil the mirlitons until the flesh is just tender -- try not to overcook or the shell will fall apart. (Seven minutes in the microwave, 10 minutes in salted boiling water on the stovetop.) Cool slightly and scoop out the flesh, leaving a 1/4-inch shell. Set the flesh aside.
- Saute the onion, garlic, celery and parsley in the butter and olive oil over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes until very tender, adding chicken broth if the vegetables become dry and begin to stick. Add the squash and mash with a potato masher. Cook until squash liquid evaporates.
- Stir in the shrimp and crabmeat and cook until most shrimp are pink, about 2 minutes. Add enough bread crumbs to absorb any liquid in the mixture. Fill the mirliton shells with the mixture. Sprinkle with additional crumbs and dot generously with butter.
- Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes until topping is crisp and golden.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 254.2, Fat 13.5, SaturatedFat 6.2, Cholesterol 160.3, Sodium 983.6, Carbohydrate 11.3, Fiber 3.4, Sugar 4, Protein 22.6
SHRIMP-STUFFED MIRLITONS
The mirliton is a pale green squash with an end puckered up like a toothless granny. They are native to Louisiana, but if you grew up eating from certain Latin American culinary canons, you might know them as chayote. In New Orleans, mirliton stuffed with shrimp is a dish both common and fancy. The chef David Guas, who grew up in Louisiana and now runs the Bayou Bakery in Washington, D.C., ate this version at his Granny Lilly's holiday table in Amite, La. His recipe is a version of her original, but with a touch of heat from cayenne pepper as influenced by Justin Wilson, a relative who had a long-running cooking show on New Orleans public television that he punctuated with the tagline "I guaranteeeeee!" Use the freshest shrimp you can find. Something from the Gulf of Mexico would lend authenticity. And be careful scooping the flesh from the mirlitons. The skin is thin and can break easily.
Provided by Kim Severson
Categories dinner, lunch, main course
Time 1h30m
Yield 6 entree or 12 side dish servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Cut mirlitons in half and scoop out the large seed in the middle. Boil in salted water to cover for 25 minutes, or until tender when punctured with the tines of a fork. Be careful not to overcook.
- Drain and cool for 15 minutes, then scrape out insides into a colander to drain. Leave 1/4 inch of flesh inside shell, being careful not to puncture skin.
- Chop drained mirliton flesh and add to a medium bowl. Mix in butter, lemon juice, parsley, salt, pepper, cayenne, Worcestershire sauce and 1/2 cup bread crumbs; set aside.
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Heat oil in a medium saucepan or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper and celery and sauté until almost translucent. Add garlic, green onion and tomatoes for just about 2 minutes. Add shrimp for 30 seconds to give them a touch of color. Quickly remove pan from heat and let it sit for 3 to 5 minutes to cool slightly. Fold sautéed ingredients into mirliton mixture.
- Scoop stuffing mixture into each mirliton half. Place mirliton in an oven-safe 1 1/2-inch deep pan. You may need two pans. Dust top of each mirliton evenly with remaining bread crumbs. Pour stock into pans to a half-inch depth, before covering and baking. Cover pans tightly with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until tops are lightly browned.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 309, UnsaturatedFat 3 grams, Carbohydrate 59 grams, Fat 5 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 14 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 1346 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams
NEW ORLEANS STUFFED MIRLITONS RECIPE - (3.9/5)
Provided by JimMac
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Boil mirlitons until tender, cut in half and remove seeds. Scoop out inside of mirlitons leaving enough flesh to keep shell intact. In a large heavy skillet, heat oil or bacon grease. Sauté onions, garlic and celery until soft. Add shrimp and ham. Cook 10 minutes. Remove excess water from mirliton and mash. Add all remaining ingredients except 1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs. Fill the reserved shells. Melt 2 tablespoons butter. Stir in reserved crumbs. Sprinkle evenly over mirlitons. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
SHRIMP STUFFED MIRLITONS (NOLA CUISINE)
I LOVE CHAYOTES!!! So finding this creole recipe using chayotes was a welcome surprise. Mirlitons (chayotes) grow in abundance in southern Louisiana. This version is stuffed with shrimp and sounds absolutely delicious - can't wait to try them!
Provided by Jostlori
Categories Vegetable
Time 1h30m
Yield 2 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Cut the Mirlitons in half lengthwise, remove the seeds.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, season with salt as you would pasta water. Add a few Bay leaves and a bundle of fresh Thyme. When the water comes to a boil add the mirliton halves, and simmer for 45 minutes, or until tender. Cool.
- When the mirlitons are cool scoop out most of the pulp, leaving a shell about 1/2 inch thick. Dry the shells by patting with a paper towel. Reserve 1/2 of the the pulp and drain on paper towels, as they hold a lot of water. When dry, chop.
- In a large cast iron skillet melt the unsalted butter over medium heat, when hot add the andouille. Cook stirring often until slightly browned.
- Add the onion, celery and bell pepper and the creole seasoning, cook for 8- 10 minutes stirring often until the onions start to carmelize and the vegetables are soft.
- Add the garlic, Mirliton flesh and Thyme, cook for 2 minutes more.
- Add the shrimp and green onions and cook until the shrimp turn pink.
- Add 1/2 Cup water (or Shrimp Stock if you have any on hand) and 1 Cup of the bread crumbs. Stir until the mixture comes together. More bread crumbs or water may be needed. The mixture should be thick, yet moist, and it should hold together. Season to taste with salt, pepper and cayenne.
- In a small bowl, combine the ingredients for the topping.
- Divide the stuffing amongst the 4 mirliton shells and cover with the topping. Place into a 350 degrees oven until hot and the topping is golden brown. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1419.7, Fat 49.8, SaturatedFat 26.8, Cholesterol 252.2, Sodium 4277.7, Carbohydrate 186.2, Fiber 13.4, Sugar 16, Protein 59.5
Tips:
- Choose the right mirlitons: Select small to medium-sized mirlitons that are firm and have a deep green color. Avoid any that have soft spots or blemishes.
- Prepare the mirlitons: Cut the mirlitons in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and pulp. Rinse the mirlitons thoroughly and pat them dry.
- Make the stuffing: There are many different variations of stuffing that can be used for mirlitons. Some popular options include shrimp and crab, pork and sausage, and vegetarian fillings made with rice, vegetables, and herbs.
- Stuff the mirlitons: Place the stuffing in the mirliton halves, mounding it slightly. Be careful not to overstuff the mirlitons, as they will expand during cooking.
- Bake the mirlitons: Place the stuffed mirlitons in a baking dish and add some water or broth to the bottom of the dish. Cover the dish and bake the mirlitons in a preheated oven for 30-45 minutes, or until tender.
- Serve the mirlitons: Serve the stuffed mirlitons hot or warm. They can be served as a main course or side dish.
Conclusion:
New Orleans stuffed mirlitons are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. They are easy to make and can be customized to suit your own taste preferences. Whether you are looking for a hearty main course or a light and healthy side dish, stuffed mirlitons are sure to please. So next time you are looking for something new to try, give this classic New Orleans dish a try. You won't be disappointed!
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