Chayote
The chayote is a pear-shaped member of the squash family. Within Mexican cuisine there are two primary varieties; with and without spines. They are most commonly steamed, boiled, breaded and fried or cooked in a sauce.
Chayotes make a great addition to a home garden, though they will send out running vines that can climb electric/telephone poles and just about anything else given the chance. A special treat you won’t find in the grocery store is their roots.