# What kind of vegetable is this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 8, 2007, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-vegetable-is-this/395154 "2007-03-08T20:23:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-vegetable-is-this/395154/1 "2007-03-08T20:23:21Z")
We went shopping last night, and my roomate bought a firm roundish smooth light green thing that has a gnarled cleft in the side, sort of like the vegetable is twisted in on itself. It’s larger than a baseball, but smaller than a volleyball. The only problem, is that none of us know what it is, or how to make it ( if we even should 🙂 ). Any ideas what it might be? ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Mood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Blue\_Mood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Mood)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-vegetable-is-this/395154/2 "2007-03-08T20:25:15Z")
It sounds like a kohlrabi. They’re yummy raw. Just peel it (the skin is tough), then slice thinly. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-vegetable-is-this/395154/3 "2007-03-08T20:29:20Z")
Is is shaped sort of like a flatish pear? If so, it sounds like a chayote squash. You can see a picture of one about halfway down this page: > **[The Nibble: Types of Squash And Definitions - Squash Types - Squash Glossary](http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/vegetables/squash-glossary.asp)** > > Page 1 of an 8-page glossary that compares the different types of squash with photos of the squash types. THE NIBBLE, Great Food Finds, is an online gourmet food magazine with 1000+ product reviews of gourmet food and beverages, squash and other... You can cook it basically any way you would cook zucchini or summer squash–steamedl, roasted, sauteed, etc. It has a very mild flavor. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-vegetable-is-this/395154/4 "2007-03-08T20:37:57Z")
[Quince?](http://images.foodnetwork.com/webfood/images/cooking/fruitandveggieguide/quince.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-vegetable-is-this/395154/5 "2007-03-08T20:39:39Z")
[QUOTE=cher3] > **[The Nibble: Types of Squash And Definitions - Squash Types - Squash Glossary](http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/vegetables/squash-glossary.asp)** > > Page 1 of an 8-page glossary that compares the different types of squash with photos of the squash types. THE NIBBLE, Great Food Finds, is an online gourmet food magazine with 1000+ product reviews of gourmet food and beverages, squash and other... [/QUOTE] AAWWW! That Baby Boo is cute. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-vegetable-is-this/395154/6 "2007-03-08T23:03:48Z")
What does your receipt say it is? Was there a number on a sticker? ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-vegetable-is-this/395154/7 "2007-03-08T23:50:14Z")
Definitely sounds like a [chayote](http://www.otan.us/webfarm/emailproject/chayote.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-vegetable-is-this/395154/8 "2007-03-09T00:12:01Z")
Chayote it is! Thanks **cher3** , and **lissener** (and everyone else who offered up possibilities). Our squash doesn’t really taper at the end, but it looks almost exactly like the first linked picture. **Kittenblue** , who knows why we didn’t think of that:).