Description
This Shrimp and Mirliton Casserole is a comforting Cajun-inspired dish that combines tender boiled mirlitons, sautéed shrimp, seasoned ground meat, and aromatic vegetables with crispy bread cubes. Baked until golden and bubbling, it’s perfect for a hearty family meal serving eight.
Ingredients
Scale
Mirliton Preparation
- 2½ lbs mirlitons (4–5 medium)
Shrimp
- 1 lb shrimp (51/60 size, bite-sized)
- 1 tsp liquid crab boil
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 lb seasoned ground meat (beef or chicken)
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Seasonings and Others
- 1 tbsp vinegar-based hot sauce
- Cajun seasoning, to taste
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 cups French bread, cubed (stale or oven-dried)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prepare Mirlitons: Boil the whole mirlitons for 45–60 minutes until they are fork-tender. Once cooked, cool them, peel off the skin, remove the seeds and the tough core, then chop the flesh into bite-sized pieces.
- Cook Shrimp: Soak the shrimp briefly in water seasoned with liquid crab boil to enhance flavor. Then sauté the shrimp in butter over medium heat until they turn just pink; avoid overcooking. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Cook Meat and Vegetables: In a large skillet, brown the seasoned ground meat thoroughly. Add the diced yellow onion, green bell pepper, celery, and minced garlic. Cook together until the vegetables soften and release their aroma, about 5-7 minutes.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped mirliton, cooked shrimp, and the meat-vegetable mixture. Add the cubed French bread, vinegar-based hot sauce, Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix gently but thoroughly to integrate all components evenly.
- Assemble Casserole: Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish lightly. Spread the combined mixture evenly into the dish. Sprinkle the top with breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese to create a crispy topping.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the casserole for 25–30 minutes, or until the topping turns golden brown and the casserole is bubbling around the edges. Remove from oven and let rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef with ground chicken for a lighter option.
- Using stale or oven-dried French bread ensures the bread cubes hold their texture instead of becoming soggy.
- Adjust Cajun seasoning and hot sauce to your preferred spice level.
- Mirlitons are also known as chayote squash; if unavailable, a mild winter squash could be a substitute but will alter the flavor.
