New Orleans Stuffed Mirliton for Thanksgiving | Louisiana Creole and Cajun cuisine

On Dec 15, 2022

New Orleans Stuffed Mirliton for Thanksgiving | Louisiana Creole and Cajun cuisine | A Thanksgiving Dish on Cooking With The Cajun

Folks ask me , What is a Mirliton? Well a Mirliton is a fruit. Yes, an edible pear-shaped fruit belonging to the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae. Used in Louisiana Creole and Cajun cuisine, the fruit is a popular seasonal dish for the Thanksgiving & Christmas holiday season, especially around Thanksgiving, in a variety of recipes. You may know the Mirliton as a Chayote.

Stay tuned for my Mirliton Casserole video coming out soon. I will like to the video here:

The below recipe has been in my family for about a hundred years. I can remember my grandparents serving stuffed Mirlitons during Thanksgiving dinner. The only difference is having the fresh shrimp. I had to use frozen shrimp.

INGREDIENTS
* 6 medium-to-large mirlitons
* 3 tablespoons oil or butter
* Salt and pepper to taste
* 1 medium white onion, chopped
* 3/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
* 2/3 cup thinly sliced green onions
* 1 pound of raw peeled fresh shrimp (Frozen is ok)
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1/2 cup celery, minced
* Dash of cayenne pepper
* 1/8 cup minced parsley & thyme mixed

PREPARATION

Step 1 – Boil mirlitons until tender, cut in half and remove the seed. Scoop out the innards while leaving enough flesh to keep the shell intact.

Step 2 – In a large heavy skillet, heat oil or butter. Sauté onions, garlic and celery until soft. Add the shrimp. Cook 8 to 12 minutes. NOTE: If you’re using frozen shrimp then soak your frozen shrimp in cold water and thaw slowly. Wash the shrimp in cold water. (Do not use HOT water!) Shrimp need to remain cold at all times.

Step 3 – Remove any excess water from the mirliton and then mash the innards. Add all remaining ingredients, except 1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs, to fill the reserved shells.

Step 4 – Melt 2 tablespoons butter. Stir in the reserved bread crumbs. Sprinkle evenly over the mirlitons. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

Step 5 – Remove and let cool for 3 to 5 minutes and serve.

Step 6 – Use any leftover stuffing to create a bake. Try adding a cheese topping to your bake and let us know how it turned out.

Thanks for your support,

The Cajun
Cooking With The Cajun
Chattanooga, TN, & NW Georgia, USA

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