VEGGIE LOVE: Papaya

If you missed it, check the archives for Papaya Breeze for another cool way to incorporate papaya into a light meal! If you are like me—I used to hate eating papaya plain, try  adding a squeeze of lemon/lime and a little bit of sea salt, it is really yummy. – XoXo Raw Girl

Hey gang! This week  we are going to get  the low down on the lovely papaya, a bright Caribbean fruit with the soft texture of a melon and a complex sweet flavor. Papaya has a smooth butter-like consistency, with a sweet flavor and a light musky aftertaste. Great in salads and smoothies, papaya is an excellent refreshing summer fruit.

Why is it good for you? Papaya is an excellent source of vitamin C, folate and potassium. It’s also a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin E, vitamin A and vitamin K. The combination of these vitamins provides protection against heart disease due to antioxidants, promotes digestive health, has anti-inflammatory effects aiding asthma and osteoarthritis, and offers supreme immune support. Papaya can also help prevent cancer, most notably colon and lung cancers. Basically, there’s no reason not to eat papaya!

Papaya can be treated like melon: either cutting in half scooping out the seeds and eating with a spoon, or peeling first and then chopping for recipes. The skin is pretty thin, so you can peel it with a vegetable peeler. Once you cut inside, you’ll be greeted with a ton of little black seeds. These are edible, but very peppery and bitter. Feel free to discard, or get creative with a peppery salad dressing. The flesh is soft, so treat gently when chopping and dicing.  The recipe this week is an absolute delight! I served it on the side of some raw tacos on a beautiful spring day and it looked so decadent and colorful. It’s a must try for the season.

Refreshing Papaya Salsa

Ingredients:
1 large papaya
1/2 large cucumber
juice from 1 lime
¼ cup chopped mint
¼ cup chopped cilantro
salt to taste

 
Peel outer skin of papaya. Slice lengthwise and scoop out seeds. Carefully dice into small pieces. Peel and chop the cucumber. Add remaining ingredients. Serve chilled.

Glad to share the love,
Kenzie, signing in for Raw Girl