A delicious tropical fruit, papaya is one of the most underrated fruits. Unfortunately, many people are unfamiliar with fresh papaya, so it can be kind of intimidating to use and eat. However, it’s actually a simple fruit to use just as long as you know how to properly prepare it. Keep reading to learn how to make papaya taste good.
What is Papaya?
First things first, what exactly is papaya? Papaya is a tropical fruit that comes from Mexico and Central America, as well as India, among other countries. Papaya needs a tropical climate to grow. Therefore, you won’t see it growing too far north of the equator.
Papayas are large melon-like fruits with seeds on the inside. They range in color on the outside from green to orange, and their insides are salmon color. Papaya is similar to melons such as cantaloupe. It has a soft texture and a sweet taste and can be sliced, peeled, and eaten raw.
How to Make Papaya Taste Good
Juice it
One fabulous way to enjoy papaya is by juicing it. Papaya has a deliciously sweet flavor that tastes lovely in a juice recipe. You can cut up papaya pieces and run them through a blender with some water or another fruit juice, or you can stick the papaya through a juicer and have pure papaya juice.
Grill Papaya
You might also enjoy grilled papaya. Grilling papaya is very simple. You can leave it in its skin and simply cut it in half, remove the seeds, and put it facedown on the grill until it has grate marks.
You can also cut your papaya into smaller pieces and grill them over indirect heat by placing them in an aluminum pan. Either way, it’s a quick and easy way to give papaya a slightly different texture and really get the juices out of it. It’s perfect as a summer side.
Season it Well
Many people like to eat papaya plain, but it’s also fun to doctor it up with some seasoning. Papaya is similar to other melons and acidic fruits, so let that be your guide if you are trying something new.
Seasonings that pair well with papaya are chili lime, salt, pepper, cinnamon, mint, and basil. That’s certainly not an exhaustive list, though, so get creative and try some of your favorite seasonings with papaya.
Pair Papaya With Other Fruits
Fruits complement other fruits, and that goes for papaya as well. Although papaya is delicious on its own, it takes on new life when it is paired with other fruits, like those in a fruit salad.
Toss it with fruits such as cantaloupe, mango, honeydew, and watermelon. Or pair it with, unlike fruits such as tomatoes and avocados. Make sure to sprinkle it with some of those seasonings to give your fruit salad as much flavor as possible.
Eat it With Yogurt
Papaya gets along famously with yogurt. Something about the juxtaposing textures makes for a delicious bite.
Whether you’re eating it with coconut yogurt, Greek yogurt, or just plain vanilla yogurt, pair it with papaya; it’ll turn into a fabulous dessert. Top it with some granola and honey for even more richness and deep flavor.
Turn it Into a Salad
Papaya will also taste delicious as a traditional salad on top of greens. Papaya can be used for a variety of salads from different cultures, such as a Thai green salad. With the right greens, sauces, and vegetables, papaya turns into the perfect sweet flavor in all types of salads.
Make it Into Ice Cream
Essentially anything can be made into ice cream, and the same goes for papaya. When cut into pieces and churned up with some sugar and cream, papaya turns into a delicious warm-weather treat.
Skewer Papaya
There are limitless ways to utilize a skewer with papaya. You can put it directly onto the grill, dip it in chocolate, serve it as is, or dip it in sugar for a candy skewer. No matter your method of choice, you’ll be left with a deliciously sweet stick of fruity goodness.
Make it Into a Jam
You might also like making papaya into a jam. Jams are a lot easier to make than it might seem. With just equal parts sugar and fruit and a little simmering and mashing, you’ll have yourself a tasty homemade jam.
Jams can be used in dozens of ways. Whether you’re pouring it on top of ice cream or spreading it on your morning toast, you’ll be thrilled you made your papaya into jam.
Papaya FAQs
Is papaya healthy?
Yes, papaya is healthy. It’s got lots of antioxidants which are great for your heart. Papaya is also very low-fat and low-sodium, and it doesn’t have many calories. It’s also high in folate and potassium, making it great for your health.
What does papaya taste like?
A combination of sweetness and fruitiness characterizes the flavor of papaya, along with a creamy texture reminiscent of cantaloupe or possibly even a blend between mango and cantaloupe. Such flavor is also marked by a subtle muskiness.
How to cut a papaya
- Wash the papaya thoroughly with cold water and dry it with a clean towel.
- Cut off the top and bottom of the papaya using a sharp knife.
- Stand the papaya upright on one of its cut ends and slice off the skin from top to bottom, following the contour of the fruit.
- Cut the papaya in half lengthwise.
- Scoop out the seeds from the center of each half using a spoon.
- Cut the papaya halves into slices or bite-sized pieces, as desired.
- Serve the papaya immediately or store it in the refrigerator for later use.
Can you freeze papaya?
Yes, you can freeze papaya, and it’s actually a great idea if you do not regularly have access to papaya.
The best way to freeze papaya is to slice and peel it and remove the seeds from the middle. Cut it into pieces and spread them evenly onto a cookie sheet. Put the cookie sheet in the freezer for about an hour, and once the pieces are thoroughly frozen, store them in an airtight, freezer-safe container until you want to use them.
Frozen papaya should last about a year in the freezer and can be used in smoothies or thawed and eaten in any of the ways mentioned above.
What should I do with the seeds?
Do not discard papaya seeds. They are full of nutrients, have a great crunchy texture, and can be used in a variety of recipes. You can eat papaya seeds raw and whole, but they might have a bitter taste, so people typically prepare them before consuming them.