Chayote curry is a simple and delicious side dish that is great to serve with either roti or rice. Chow-Chow is cooked in an easy to make spicy tomato gravy.
It is always important to have some quick and easy recipes in ones repertoire. These come in very handy when you are short of time, especially on a busy weeknight. Here's one such curry in a hurry recipe that can be made in less than 30 minutes. I rely on my pressure cooker or my Instant pot to make these quick recipes.
Chayote Squash | Chow Chow
Chayote squash aka chow chow is one of my favorite vegetable. It has a nice crisp, almost pear like texture. Along with many South Asian cuisines, it is also widely used in Latin American cuisine. It is savory and is eaten raw in salads and salsas. The root, stems and leaves of the chayote plant are also edible. Here's some more information on national center for food preservation.
My mom makes a simple dry chayote curry with just sauteed chow chow that is flavored with curry leaves and fresh grated coconut. That is my favorite way of enjoying this vegetable, but today's gravy is also equally delicious.
Ingredients:
To make this chow chow masala curry, you need the following ingredients:
- chayote - look for evenly colored, firm, blemish-free squash. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- onion
- tomato
- ginger-garlic paste
- garam masala or curry powder - I used MTR brand curry masala that I bought recently and it gave the dish the bright orange-red color and subtle masala flavor that was not too over-powering.
- ground almonds - I add this to thicken the sauce. Feel free to use ground cashews or almond meal or even almond butter.
- milk - to give the sauce a gravy consistency. To make the dish vegan, substitute milk with water.
Instructions:
I make this curry in the pressure cooker because it is quick and needs only 10 minutes of hands-on time. You can use an instant pot or even make it on the stove top. How-to's for these are included under tips.
- Heat oil in a pressure cooker, add tempering ingredients and once the seeds start to splutter, add the onions and sauté until lightly browned around the edges, takes about 4-5 minutes.
- Add turmeric and ginger+garlic paste at this point; mix well and cook for 1 minute.
- Add tomato puree and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Next add ground cashews, red chili powder, curry powder, salt and chopped chayote. Mix well.
- Add ½ cup of milk (if using) or water, no need to add too much water since chayote gives out moisture while cooking.
- Close the lid and pressure cook on medium flame for 2 whistles.
- Once the pressure drops, open the lid and serve hot with rice or rotis.
Chayote Curry (Chow Chow Masala Curry)
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Oil
- 1 tsp Urad dal
- ½ tsp Mustard seeds
- ½ tsp Cumin seeds
- 8 - 10 Curry leaves
- 2 Medium Chayote/ Chow chow, peeled and chopped
- 1 Large Onion, finely chopped
- ¼ cup Tomato puree
- ½ tsp Red chili powder
- 1½ tsps Garam Masala or Curry powder
- ¼ tsp Turmeric
- 1 tsp Ginger+Garlic paste
- 2 tbsp Ground Cashews
- ½ cup Milk (optional)
- To taste Salt
Instructions
- Heat oil in a pressure cooker, add urad dal, mustard & cumin seeds and curry leaves. Once the seeds start to splutter, add the onions and sauté until lightly browned around the edges, takes about 4-5 minutes.
- Add turmeric and ginger+garlic paste at this point; mix well and cook for 1 minute.
- Add tomato puree and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Next add ground cashews, red chili powder, curry powder, salt and chopped chayote. Mix well.
- Add ½ cup of milk (if using) or water, no need to add too much water since chayote gives out moisture while cooking.
- Close the lid and pressure cook on medium flame for 2 whistles.
- Once the pressure drops, open the lid and serve hot with rice or rotis.
Notes
- This curry can be made in an Instant Pot as well. Follow the recipe as written and cook on high pressure/ manual for 4 minutes.
- The curry can also be made in a skillet - will just take a little longer, may 15 minutes to cook chayote until tender.
Tips
- To make this dish in an Instant Pot - follow the recipe as written and cook on high pressure/ manual for 4 minutes. Then let the pressure release naturally.
- The curry can also be made in a skillet - will just take a little longer, may 15 minutes to cook chayote until tender.
- Substitute chayote with zucchini or bottle gourd or potato in the recipe.
Few more recipes to try:
vaishali sabnani
new for me...looks appealing!
Priya Suresh
Very inviting curry,never tried chow chow like this way, fantastic..
Priti S
I am lookout for chow chow recipes ..this looks delish
Jayashree
Beautiful colour.
Aarthi
looking good...yummy
Gayathri's Cook Spot
Chow chow curry looks so inviting..
Hari Chandana
Lovely recipe.. looks yummy !!!Indian Cuisine
Suma Gandlur
Looks delicious. Though it is one of my favorite vegetables, I never tried to cook it this way. A coconut stir fry or saagu is what I prepare besides using it in sambhar.Regarding your kadai question, my husband got me that from Metro store, Bangalore.
Finla
Delicious looking curry.
mrkk08
that was indeed some interesting gyan
Vardhini
Looks good Pavani. Perfect for rotis and rice too.VardhiniVardhinisKitchen
Usha Rao
Do you buy cashew butter form the store or made it it home? I did not know there is something called cashew butter.
Pavani
Thanks everyone.Thank you Suma for the info on your cute kadai, I'll be look out on my next India trip.Hi Usha, I bought cashew butter from Whole foods. It's usually with all the other nut butters, peanut butter, almond butter etc.. It is great make gravy dishes creamy without the addition of cream.
Priya Srinivasan
wow pavani, that curry looks very inviting, i love simple sides like this to go with rice, and that too a pressure cooker recipe is a keeper! i might try this version of yours!!!
Seema Sriram
This step by step looks so quick I am sure i can get this done. So it will surely go on my weekly buying list. Thankyou
Shailender Sharma
Chow chow curry is a super delicious recipe made with utmost simplicity. Curry looks absolutely delicious.
Lata Lala
Awesome post Pavani. Elobrate recipe and easy to cook makes it super favorite. The name chow chow curry sounds super cute.
Swati
Curry looks so delicious and recipe sounds so flavorful.. never made chow chow this way. will love to pair it with some steamed rice.
Vandana
It's been years that I ate this vegetable. I have some very beautiful childhood memories attached to it so I love it. Thanks for sharing the recipe, I will make it soon.
Anshu
Never heard of Chayote curry. Sounds very flavorful and delish. And looks appetising too. Lovely share!