achochas

[Pompeylottie]

I harvested 5 achochas today, for the first time, I bought the seeds in a seed swap. Has anyone got any ideas about how I cook them, I understand the smaller ones can be eated like cucumber but you cook the bigger ones.
BUT how small is small? The biggest is just under 2" long - is that small or big?
I am keen to use them as I have read they are good for lowering chloresterol.

Any ideas please?

[Flummery]

I've harvested one! It was about 2 inches long and had probably been there a while but I hadn't spotted it. It's mature when the seeds are black and hard - about half of mine were. I flicked them out to dry off for next year. The pod I sliced up and used in a risotto with broad beans, peas and shallots. Couldn't really taste it - but I can report it's not poisonous!

[Two_Sheds]

I had to google this! Never 'eard of it : "Achocha is an unusual vegetable from South America that is remarkably easy to grow. It is impressively productive, easy to grow, and can be used raw in salads when small a bit like a cucumber. But the best thing is that they really taste just like sweet green peppers when fried.

Fat Baby (brilliant name ) is remarkably easy to grow. It is impressively productive, even outdoors, and can be used raw in salads when small a bit like a cucumber.

It is a quick and vigorous climber and you can climb it up and over anything, including garden sheds, although it does best in a warm sunny spot. Definitely best outdoors though and not in a polytunnel, because it tends to take over if grown inside." Vegetable Seed : Cucumbers, gherkins and a few other oddities

[HeyWayne]

Two of my three plants died. I have one "almost" plant left - it's just a couple of leaves above the soil. Was quite looking forward to trying them too - looks like I'll not be able to save seeds either as it's unlikely to fruit in time.

You're supposed be able to stir fry them whole I think? Or add them on top of pizzas - supposed to taste like green peppers aren't they?

[zazen999]

My fat baby died - it was about 7 foot high so I tried to get it accustomed to the great outdoors and within about 10 minutes the leaves shrivelled up and it never recovered. It wasn't even a hot/cold day - just a gently light breeze. My poor baby.

Definitely stir fry - well - put in the pan much as you would peppers [so for not as long as onions]...

[raine]

I had one that sadly died too - i popped it out for a bit and forgot to bring it back in. I gutted as I really fancied growing them. I was told that you can eat them small too although when I tried I had really bad indigestion! Also told lovely in a stew but of course never got to try that!

[rogesse]

I recognised the blurb (google) as that of 'Realseads'.

I bought the exploding Achocha from them on a whim, sowed inside then hardened off. It was planted up the long side of my Heath Robinson shed in a bid to cover up....

It sulked (boy did it sulk), refused to grow and went all wimpy and yellowish.

This was 3 months ago - now it has reached the top of the shed, has invaded the shed and is threatening the neighbours

The wierd fruit are about thumb nail size but must admit, not a clue what to do with them - only got them to confuse the know-it-all's on the allotment

[DeanRIowa]

At this site they have recipes for Curried Achocha and Achocha Pickles.

Let me know how they turned out, I am hoping to harvest some Achochas in about 1 1/2 months from now, that I received in a trade from Belgium.

Dean

[zazen999]

Although my fat baby died, my exploding is going great guns and threatening to take over the garden. I even found the OH winding it around a cane tonight and it was getting in the way.