Papaya - Culinary File

Buying papaya
The fruit should give when pressed gently. Avoid any with too many black marks.

Storing
Store at room temperature if the papaya is not yet as ripe as you wish.
Wrap in brown paper at room temperature if you wish to accelerate the ripening process.
Place in the crisper of the refrigerator if you wish to stop the ripening.

Cooking tips

• Use vegetable papaya as a tenderizing agent.
• Can be eaten on its own, with a spoon (the skin is inedible.)
• Can be puréed for coulis and sorbets.
• Can be added to fruit salsas and chutneys.

Salad - with mango, English cucumber and red onion. Dressing: cider vinegar, orange juice, oil and papaya seeds.

Suggestions

Prawns with papaya - Sauté the prawns and papaya slices. Serve with a coconut milk, garlic, ginger and lime sauce.

Gourmetpedia
Brazil - Papaya cream - Blend together ripe papaya, vanilla ice cream, 1 tbsp. blackberry liqueur.

Philippines - Papaya salad - Firm papaya, green apples, celery stalks, pineapple, lemon juice, walnut oil, sesame oil, 1 tbsp. soy sauce and ½ tsp. molasses.

Thailand - chicken breast skewers served on papaya slices, with lemon grass, shallot and cilantro.

Hawaii - artichokes stuffed with ham and mayonnaise salad with papaya seeds (see above).

Hawaii - slices of avocado and papaya with a sweet honey and papaya seed vinaigrette.