Hot & Sweet Choko & Pumpkin Tip Salad
Recipe by Chef Robert Oliver,
Knox and Leo from the
Pacific Island Food Revolution
"Choko is generally considered to be boring! It is bland and requires a lot of help. With masterful cooks like Knox and Leo- that’s easy!
This was one of the most surprising dishes in the whole series. Choko works well with this robustly flavoured dressing- in fact, it’s the blandness that makes this dish work. Be sure to add the dressing when the cooked choko is still slightly warm- it will absorb its zingy flavours. I've also had a terrific salad made with shredded raw choko dressed with lime juice, garlic and olive oil. Choko - soko - are reputedly good for reducing hypertension."
– Chef Robert Oliver –
Ingredients
3 choko (christophene, chayote, soko)
¼ cup virgin coconut oil
1 thumb-size turmeric, chopped
1 thumb-size ginger, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 tsp curry powder
1 stalk lemongrass
1 tsp honey
1 lemon, juiced
¼ small bunch coriander
8 pumpkin tips or choko tips
1 chili
½ onion
½ talo (taro)
1 bunch watercress
salt and pepper
Method
- Heat ¼ cup coconut oil.
- Add turmeric, ginger, garlic, whole chilli, lemongrass and the curry powder.
- Remove from heat and allow oil to infuse.
- Mix thoroughly and let sit.
- When cool add the lemon juice and the honey, season with salt and pepper. Add the chopped coriander. This is your dressing.
- Peel talo, cut talo into thin strips and pat dry.
- Heat a little coconut oil in a pan and fry talo until crisp to make chips.
- Peel choko.
- Cut choko into cubes.
- Blanch choko in salted water.
- Trim the pumpkin tips to just leave the tender tendrils.
- Add pumpkin tips to choko and cook for 1 minute.
- Remove choko & pumpkin tips from heat.
- Strain and allow to cool a bit, then add the coconut oil dressing. Check for salt and pepper one more time. Let cool.
- Place choko salad on a plate.
- Top with watercress and freshly grated coconut.
- Garnish with talo crisps.
Knox & Leo, finalists of Chef Robert Oliver's reality cooking show,
Pacific Island Food Revolution.
