Also known as chayote or christophine, this ridged, pale-green, avocado-shaped vegetable belongs to the squash family. It is popular in the Caribbean, and its bland flesh combines well with the spicy stews of that region. It is also a useful vegetable for stuffing and baking.

Choose small, firm chow-chow and store in the fridge, where they should keep for several weeks. Both the skin and the central seed are edible, although I prefer to peel them for stews.