Low Carb Shrimp and Chayote Recipe

Low carb shrimp and chayote recipe – Chayote, also known as vegetable pear or Christophine, is a green fruit that is highly nutritious and a perfect addition to your low-carb diet. All parts of the chayote plant, including the stem, leaves, and fruit, are rich in different types of nutrients. It also has many medicinal properties that can be useful in treating many health conditions such as indigestion, hypertension, and kidney stones. Chayote can be eaten raw by adding it to salads or you can cook it along with meat or other vegetables. Although chayote is eaten as a vegetable, it is actually a fruit that is the size and shape of a pear, hence the name vegetable pear.

Chayote are popular in many countries and known by many names such as cho-cho or chu-chu, merleton, citron, guatila, centinarja, pipinola, choko, güisquil, chouchoute, labu siam, ishkus, pataste, tayota or sayote.

Nutritional value of chayote

Chayote is a nutritious, low-calorie vegetable with high amounts of water. One cup of cooked chayote provides about 38 calories of energy. It is low in saturated fat and contains no cholesterol. However, chayote is a rich source of dietary fiber, which makes it an ideal food for those trying to lose weight. Fiber is also helpful in controlling blood sugar levels and keeping the heart healthy by lowering cholesterol levels. Chayote is an excellent fruit that provides many essential vitamins and minerals. It is a good source of vitamin C, folate, thiamine, riboflavin, and pyridoxine. This fruit is low in sodium and rich in potassium, which is good for maintaining normal blood pressure levels. It also contains other minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc.

Health benefits of chayote

Although it may not be very attractive or exotic in appearance, chayote offers numerous benefits that help improve your overall health. Some of the health benefits of this fruit are explained below.

High in fiber

A high-fiber diet can help treat constipation and normalize bowel movements. Chayote is a great way to increase your fiber intake. One chayote contains 3.5 grams of fiber, which contributes 14% of your daily value of 25 grams. Fiber also helps control blood sugar levels—particularly helpful for diabetics—and lowers cholesterol, which promotes a healthier cardiovascular system.

Helps with weight loss

One whole chayote has only 38.6 calories and 0.1 grams of fat. The high water and fiber content help keep you fuller for longer without consuming too many calories. You can eat chayote as a snack to keep hunger at bay and stay within your daily calorie intake. Because of the fruit's soft texture, you can use chayote as a topping on a salad or add it to a smoothie.

Provides essential vitamins

Chayote is an abundant source of folate and vitamin C. Folate is a water-soluble vitamin that is essential for female fertility and cancer prevention. Taken before and during pregnancy, it reduces the risk of neural tube birth defects. One whole chayote contributes 189 micrograms of folate to your diet, which is equivalent to about 50% of your recommended daily allowance. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant that helps fight free radicals, which can increase the risk of heart disease and some forms of cancer. One chayote contains 15.6 micrograms of vitamin C, which is equivalent to 26% of your RDA.

Source of Minerals

Trace minerals are needed in small amounts on a daily basis to help maintain a healthy metabolism, immune system, and strong bones. Chayote contains the trace minerals zinc, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium. Trace minerals are part of the body's hormones and enzymes. One chayote provides 1 milligram of zinc—7% of your daily value. Zinc plays a role in wound healing and supports a good sense of taste and smell. Calcium and magnesium keep bones strong, and potassium supports nerve and muscle function.

See Also:

Low Carb Pumpkin Dried Meat Recipe

Low Carb Beef Stroganoff Recipe

Low Crab Cod Recipe

Low carb shrimp and chayote recipe | Ingredients

• ½ kg of cleaned medium shrimp
• juice of 1 lemon
• 1 tablespoon chopped coriander
• salt and black pepper to taste
• ½ cup of olive oil, 1 medium chopped onion, 1 chopped garlic clove
• ½ kg of chayote, peeled and cut into cubes
• 3 large tomatoes, skinned and seeded, chopped
• 1 cup (tea) of shrimp broth
• ½ cup (tea) of coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley.

Low carb shrimp and chayote recipe | How to prepare

Season the shrimp with lemon juice, coriander, salt and black pepper and set aside.

In a pan, heat the olive oil and sauté the onion, garlic and chayote.

Add the tomatoes, shrimp broth, coconut milk, hot sauce and salt.

Mix and cook for 15 minutes on medium heat or until the chayote is soft.

Add the seasoned shrimp, mix and cook for another 10 minutes and sprinkle with parsley.

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