Tayota (chayote) is a mild-tasting vegetable, and it is this flavor that works so well in this delectable, traditional Dulce de tayota. Try this candied chayote dessert recipe with video.
By - Reviewed: . Original: Jun 22, 2021
❝ I followed Clara's instructions, and it turned out really delicious... ❞
Why we ❤️ it
A few weeks ago we had fun on Instagram at the expense of the humble tayota (chayote, chayota, christophine, or mirliton), a mild-tasting vegetable that appears in many savory dishes on Dominican tables. But did you know you can also make desserts with tayota?
Well, you can, and this delicious sweet treat in syrup has a very pleasant flavor with a divine blend of spices.
What's tayota?
Tayota, also known as chayote or chayota in other Spanish-speaking countries, is a vine-growing plant that is widely used in our cuisine.
Tayota has a reputation for being --how can we put this delicately?-- challenged in the taste department, but this very mildness that makes it so easy to make fun of, also makes it flexible enough to work well in this sweet dulce de tayota en almíbar, as well as savory dishes.
Chayote (tayota) and chayote in spiced syrup.
Serving suggestions
Like all dulces en almíbar desserts (candied fruits with spices), this dessert is perfect for ending a Dominican lunch, and it's wonderful after La Bandera Dominicana or one of our delicious locrios.
Top tips
- Lighter version: To make a keto-friendly version, use your preferred heat-safe sweetener. I used this one (Amazon affiliate link), which I prefer when cooking and baking.
- Adding raisins: Raisins make a lovely addition to this dish if you like them. Add when you combine all the ingredients for cooking.
About this recipe
There isn't much to say about this recipe, it's pretty simple, though different people may combine different spices.
Tayota will, as it does in every other dish it appears, absorb the tastes in which it is cooked. It'll end up infused with the sweetness of the sugar, and flavors and aromas of the spices. Served chilled, it is a fantastic summer dessert.
Tayota is very low in carbohydrates, so I also tested a keto and low-carb-friendly version that you can find in the notes.
Video
Recipe
This awesome free recipe contains Amazon affiliate links, we receive a small commission from any purchase you make at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Dulce de Tayota [Video+Recipe] Chayote in Spiced Syrup
Ingredients
- 3 tayota, (chayote)
- 1 cup brown sugar, (see notes)
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 3 star anise
- 9 cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
1. Slicing tayota
Cut into halves, peel and core the tayota.With a potato peeler or a mandoline, slice the tayota very thinly.
2. Combining
- Combine all the ingredients in a medium saucepan. Pour in ¼ gallon [1 liter] of water.Add the salt, sugar, cinnamon, anise, and cloves.
3. Cooking
- Heat over medium heat. Simmer. Stir regularly to cook uniformly, and skim the foam that forms on top if it looks like it might overboil. Once the liquid has reduced to about 1½ cup, and the tayota is cooked through (15-20 mins).Remove from the heat, discard the cinnamon sticks, star anise and cloves (though I leave them in as decoration).
4. Serving and storing
- Cool to room temperature, then chill before serving.Store in a lidded jar and refrigerate for up to a week.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated automatically based on ingredients listed. Please consult your doctor if you need precise nutrition information.
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More candied fruit recipes
Dulces en almibar (fruit in spiced syrup) are dear and near for most Dominicans. You can find a number of dulces en almíbar recipes here. Don't miss out on some of the most popular ones, such as Dulce de naranja, Dulce de cereza, Dulce de tomate, and more.
And for something a bit different, try a lovely combination of ginger and pitaya.
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