Ready to get tropical? Even if a tropical vacation isn’t in your plans, you can still bring exotic vacation-y flavors into your everyday meals. Papaya is popping up in groceries stores right about now and can be use in a variety of fun and delicious ways. And if that doesn’t intrigue you enough to try, consider this — papaya is one of the few fruits that’s often referred to as having a “buttery” texture. We promise, it’s mouth-watering good.
Why we love it: This beautiful orange and pink fruit is way more than just a pretty face. One cup of fresh papaya delivers 88mg of vitamin C — that’s over 133% of the Daily Value; 28% of the Daily Value of vitamin A; and folate, potassium, vitamin E, and fiber. It even contains lutein, a nutrient that can help protect your eyes from the damaging rays of the sun (you still need sunglasses though!) It also contains papain, an enzyme that helps with the digestion of protein. And, as we mentioned above, papaya’s texture is tender and buttery, which means that it can be served “as is” and eaten with a spoon straight from the skin, it can be chopped and used in sweet or savory dishes, or it can be mashed!
How to store it: Papayas that are red-orange in color and soft when gently pressed are ready to eat. If the fruit has a bit of yellow on the skin, that means they need a couple days to ripen. Leave papayas on a countertop to ripen and then once you cut them open, store them in the fridge. Once papayas are ripe, the need to be used!
How to use it: Don’t be intimidated by this fantastic fruit — one of the simplest preparations is also the most delicious. To serve, simply peel the papaya and chop into 1-inch cubes. Squeeze fresh lime juice over the papaya and chow down. Ready for something more elaborate? Mix 1 cup diced papaya with 1/3 cup diced red onion, 1 Tbsp chopped garlic, 1 Tbsp chopped jalapeno, and 1 Tbsp lime juice. Stir together and let sit for 30 minutes, refrigerated, so the flavors meld. Use as a salsa with fish or chicken.
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