Mirliton

Ingredients

• 6 mirlitonss (chayotes) , 8 ounce
• 1 pound fresh shrimp , peeled and deveined
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion , chopped
• 1 clove garlic , minced
• 1 pound cooked , cubed ham
• 1 egg
• 1 cup dry bread crumbs , Optional
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 0.5 cups dry bread crumbs for topping , Optional

Instructions

1. 1

   Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add mirliton; boil until tender, about 45 minutes. Drain, cool, peel, cut in half, remove seeds, and cut into cubes.

2. 2

   When mirliton almost done, bring another pot of water to a boil. Add shrimp; cook until pink, about 5 minutes. Drain shrimp; reserve water.

3. 3

   Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).

4. 4

   Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; cook until soft. Transfer to a 9x13-inch baking dish. Stir in mirliton, shrimp, and ham. Beat egg and 1 tablespoon shrimp cooking water together in a small dish; stir into baking dish. Stir in 1 cup bread crumbs, parsley, thyme, salt, and black pepper until combined. If it seems a little dry, add a little more shrimp cooking water. You can bake, refrigerate, or freeze at this point. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup breadcrumbs on top if desired.

5. 5

   Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown on top, about 1 hour and 30 minutes.