Looking for a fresh and vibrant salad that will awaken your taste buds? Look no further than this delightful Chayote Salad recipe. Bursting with flavors and textures, this salad combines the crispness of thinly sliced chayote with the peppery arugula, walnut, blue cheese and a tangy dressing.
Whether you're looking for a light lunch or a refreshing side dish, this Chayote Salad is sure to impress. Get ready to tantalize your palate with this simple yet exquisite recipe.
Arugula and pear go well together in a salad but since pear is not very low in carbs I used chayote to replace a pear. This is a simple salad to make packed with flavor as the blue cheese and dressing perk up the salad leaves.
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What is Chayote?
Chayote, also known as vegetable pear, is a type of green, wrinkled-skinned fruit that belongs to the gourd family. While it is considered a fruit botanically, it is often treated and consumed as a vegetable in culinary applications. Chayote is native to Mexico and Central America but is now cultivated and enjoyed in many parts of the world. We call it Christophine in Saint Lucia.
The chayote fruit has a mild, crisp, and slightly sweet flavor, similar to a cucumber or zucchini. It has a pale green or white flesh and a single, large seed in the center, which is usually removed before cooking. The skin is thin and edible, although it can be peeled if desired.
Is Chayote keto-friendly?
Chayote is a relatively low-carbohydrate vegetable, making it a suitable option for those following a low-carb or keto diet. 1 cup (about 160 grams) of raw, sliced chayote contains around 1.5 grams of net carbohydrates.
Ingredients
All you need to make this salad is a few ingredients and a keto honey.
- Arugula - a peppery salad leaf that goes great with the other ingredients.
- Chayote - our substitute for a pear. If you are not strictly counting carbs, this can be swapped with apple or pear.
- Red onion - thinly sliced.
- Walnuts - toast before use for an extra flavor.
- Blue cheese - if you don't like the strong taste of a blue cheese, feta cheese or goats cheese makes a great substitute.
- Keto honey - with honey being too high in carbs, I tried a sugar-free version from Besti. This natural sugar-free honey alternative tastes, bakes and drizzles just like honey does.
Recipe Tips
Choose chayotes that are firm and free from any soft spots or blemishes. To achieve thin and uniform slices, it's recommended to use a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife. This will ensure that the chayote slices are evenly cut and provide a consistent texture throughout the salad.
Feel free to customize the salad according to your preferences. You can add other vegetables like cucumber or bell peppers, swap feta cheese for goat cheese or Parmesan, or incorporate additional herbs like basil or mint for extra freshness.
Serving Suggestions
The Arugula Chayote Salad can be served as a side dish alongside grilled chicken or fish. You can also turn it into a complete meal by adding protein sources like grilled shrimp, sliced grilled steak, or roasted chicken breast on top of the salad.
More Salad Recipes
Enjoy a tasty salad this summer with these other low carb recipes:
Grilled Watermelon Halloumi Salad
Arugula Chayote Salad
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Ingredients
Dressing
- ¼ cup avocado oil or olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon keto honey
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the chayotes by peeling them and then thinly slicing them into matchstick-sized pieces.
- In a large salad bowl, combine the arugula, chayote, red onion, crumbled blue cheese, and toasted walnuts.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients. Pour the dressing over the salad. Toss gently to combine all the ingredients and coat them with the dressing.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.
