Composition and calorie content of melon tree fruits. Useful properties, contraindications for use and possible harm to the body. How to choose a fruit? Papaya in cooking. Interesting Facts.

Papaya is the edible fruit of the tropical tree of the same name, which ripens fairly quickly throughout the year. Another name is melon tree. It grows wild in large quantities in some countries of Southeast Asia, Central and Latin America, where papaya cultivation is considered traditional, because this culture is highly valued. The fruits of the melon tree have taken pride of place in cooking and are widely used to prepare a variety of dishes. The taste and aroma of papaya depends on the variety and degree of ripeness. The ripe pulp tastes like pumpkin, boiled carrots or melon. The aroma is slightly similar to the smell of raspberries, and when baked over a fire, a pleasant aroma of bread appears.

Composition and calorie content of papaya

The photo shows the papaya fruit

It contains a wide range of useful substances - minerals, vitamins, plant enzymes, sugars and many biologically active substances. Thanks to this, the fruit is considered very valuable for human health.

Papaya caloriesper 100 g is 43 kcal, of which:

• Proteins - 0.47 g;
• Fats - 0.26 g;
• Carbohydrates - 9.12 g;
• Dietary fiber - 1.7 g;
• Water - 88.06 g;
• Ash - 0.39 g.

Digestible carbohydrates per 100 g:

• Mono- and disaccharides - 7.82 g;
• Glucose - 4.09 g;
• Fructose - 3.73 g.

Vitamins per 100 g:

• Alpha-carotene - 2 mcg;
• Beta-carotene - 0.274 mg;
• Beta-cryptoxanthin - 589 mcg;
• Lycopene - 1828 mcg;
• Lutein and Zeaxanthin - 89 mcg;
• Vitamin B1 - 0.023 mg;
• Vitamin B2 - 0.027 mg;
• Vitamin B4 - 6.1 mg;
• Vitamin B5 - 0.191 mg;
• Vitamin B6 - 0.038 mg;
• Vitamin B9 - 37 mcg;
• Vitamin C - 60.9 mg;
• Beta tocopherol - 0.02 mg;
• Gamma tocopherol - 0.09 mg;
• Delta tocopherol - 0.01 mg;
• Vitamin K - 2.6 mcg;
• Vitamin PP - 0.357 mg.

Macroelements per 100 g:

• Potassium - 182 mg;
• Calcium - 20 mg;
• Magnesium - 21 mg;
• Sodium - 8 mg;
• Phosphorus - 10 mg.

Microelements per 100 g:

• Iron - 0.25 mg;
• Manganese - 0.04 mg;
• Copper - 45 mcg;
• Selenium - 0.6 mcg;
• Zinc - 0.08 mg.

Essential amino acids per 100 g:

• Arginine - 0.01 g;
• Valine - 0.01 g;
• Histidine - 0.005 g;
• Isoleucine - 0.008 g;
• Leucine - 0.016 g;
• Lysine - 0.025 g;
• Methionine - 0.002 g;
• Threonine - 0.011 g;
• Tryptophan - 0.008 g;
• Phenylalanine - 0.009 g.

Essential amino acids per 100 g:

• Alanine - 0.014 g;
• Aspartic acid - 0.049 g;
• Glycine - 0.018 g;
• Glutamic acid - 0.033 g;
• Proline - 0.01 g;
• Serine - 0.015 g;
• Tyrosine - 0.005 g.

Saturated fatty acids per 100 g:

• Lauric acid - 0.002 g;
• Myristic - 0.013 g;
• Palmitic - 0.06 g;
• Stearic - 0.004 g.

Monounsaturated fatty acids per 100 g:

• Palmitoleic - 0.038 g;
• Oleic, omega-9 -0.034 g.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids per 100 g:

• Omega-3 - 0.047 g;
• Omega-6 - 0.011 g.

Plant enzymes that make up papaya: albumin, papain, protease, chymopapain A and B, lipase, amylase, glutamine transferase.

Thus, the main health value of the fruit and the beneficial properties of papaya are determined by the presence in its composition of vitamin C, potassium, as well as natural enzymes for the gastrointestinal tract.

Useful properties of papaya

Benefits of papaya for men

The beneficial properties of papaya for the male population are ensured by the presence of a special enzyme called arginine. It improves blood flow to the male genital organs, normalizes their functioning, stimulates receptors, significantly enhancing sensations during intimacy.

This fruit is able to restore weakened reproductive function, increasing a man’s chances of becoming a father, and normalize potency, prolonging the sexual activity of the stronger sex.

Benefits of papaya for women

Women can also use this product with great benefit, because it has a beneficial effect not only on the health of the female body, but also on the appearance of every representative of the fair sex.

First of all, the benefit of papaya for women lies in its ability to restore reproductive function and accelerate the onset of pregnancy. Ripe fruits normalize ovarian function and restore the menstrual cycle. At the same time, they also reduce pain and improve the psycho-emotional state during PMS and menstruation.

Ripe papaya has a sweet taste, however, despite this, the fruits can be used in dietary nutrition for weight loss. The product helps break down fats and quickly remove waste products. Properly prepared papaya for diabetes will not cause sudden spikes in sugar, will improve digestion and will prevent you from gaining excess weight.

To understand how papaya is beneficial for your appearance, it’s worth returning to the composition of this product, namely its antioxidant content. Thus, women value the regenerating properties of this product. These fruits can significantly improve the condition of the skin, even out the complexion, making it more natural, get rid of age spots, restore the elasticity of the epidermis, neutralizing existing fine wrinkles and preventing the formation of new ones. The skin is quickly smoothed out. The ability of papaya to remove dangerous toxic compounds from the body allows you to cleanse the skin of rashes, dead cells, and get rid of various types of dermatitis.

Also for cosmetic purposes, the fruits of the melon tree are used to remove unwanted hair.

Beneficial properties of papaya during pregnancy

Pregnant women can also eat papaya provided there are no individual contraindications, which can be found out at an appointment with a leading obstetrician-gynecologist.

First of all, the fruits allow you to strengthen the body’s protective functions due to the high content of vitamin C and avoid some infectious diseases without harm to the developing fetus.

The fruit replenishes the reserves of vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids and other important biologically active substances that are so necessary for both the woman and the unborn child. Papaya plays a special role in restoring the quantitative content of folic acid, which is urgently necessary for the development of the baby’s nervous system.

Separately, we can talk about the importance of the product for combating anemia. Papaya allows you to restore hemoglobin content, improve blood circulation and eliminate the likelihood of developing hypoxia, which is fraught with various pathologies of pregnancy.

Thus, when consumed in moderation, papaya during pregnancy is not only not dangerous, but also very useful.

Benefits of papaya for children

Papaya is no less useful for children of any age. The main thing is to know how to eat papaya correctly. In countries where this fruit grows, it is introduced into complementary foods from the 4th month of a baby’s life, traditionally starting with 1 teaspoon of heat-treated pulp and gradually increasing the portion. This product is quite easily digestible and tones the developing body.

In adolescence, the fruits of the melon tree can be used to combat skin diseases, for example, acne and freckles.

The fruit is also useful for eliminating fungal infections, which very often occur after visiting the pool and sports sections, and combating HPV, which causes the appearance of warts.

The beneficial properties of papaya for increasing immunity and eliminating anemia are undeniable.

The presence of glycine, vitamins and minerals in the fruits of the melon tree allows you to normalize the functioning of the nervous system, restore psycho-motor functions of the brain, increase cognitive abilities, improve sleep and restore normal performance during the day.

Note! Despite the fairly high carbohydrate content and moderately high glycemic index of papaya, this product is not contraindicated for use by diabetics, because helps improve metabolism and reduces the body's need for insulin.

Contraindications and harms of papaya

For residents of our country, papaya is considered an exotic product, so even an adult is recommended to try it, starting with small portions.

The main contraindication to consuming papaya is the presence of individual intolerance to this product.

Reviews of papaya indicate that the product will not harm the body if consumed in moderation and properly cleaned and processed.

You can buy papaya in many large grocery stores; it is important to choose quality fruits. However, they are consumed both ripe and unripe, so the rules for choosing fruit are ambiguous.

Usually papaya is picked from the tree when it is not ripe for sale. This makes it easier to store and transport. During this time, the fruits ripen easily.

Unripe fruits have the following characteristics: the peel is green, the pulp is quite hard, the juice is minimal and transparent. At the same time, you will not be able to feel a special aroma or any exotic taste. However, even at this stage of maturity, the fruit is still used as food.

Before choosing a ripe papaya, it is worth remembering that the peel, depending on the variety of the plant, has a yellow or golden-orange tint, the color should be uniform without any spots or inclusions, the ripe fruit is slightly soft to the touch, the flesh has a reddish tint. A fruit with such characteristics will definitely be fresh and sweet and will appeal to many people. Moreover, the shape and size of the fruit can vary significantly depending on the type of papaya and growing conditions

How do you eat the fruits of the melon tree?

The photo shows how papaya is eaten

Only papaya pulp is eaten. The ripe fruit is cut in half. Next, use a spoon to select all the available seeds and, using a knife, cut them into slices, like watermelon and melon, along with the peel.

Before cutting papaya into cubes, it must be washed and peeled. Then the ripe fruit will be convenient to eat with a fork.

If you bought an unripe fruit, you can, for example, steam it, bake it in the oven, or send it to a dry, warm place to ripen.

If you need a ripe fruit, then you should remember how to store papaya in order to speed up its ripening. You just need to place the fruit in one bag with bananas or ripe apples for 1-2 days. When papaya is ripe, it can be eaten either raw or processed.

For storage, the fruits of the melon tree are placed in the refrigerator for no more than 5-7 days.

Here's how to clean papaya in Thailand: for this you need:

• cut the fruit in half lengthwise;
• Using a tablespoon, scoop out the hard black papaya seeds and discard;
• peel off the thin and soft peel with a knife;
• then cut the pulp into slices, cubes, etc., as you wish, and you can serve it on the table, but, as a rule, they cut it into cubes, it’s more convenient to eat.

By the way, advice: after cutting the papaya into cubes, put it in the refrigerator for an hour; a cold and juicy fruit in hot countries of the world is exactly what the body needs!

This fruit can also be cut into thin slices and dried in the oven at 60°C. When dried, it can easily be stored for 2-3 months or more.

Recipes with papaya

Papaya dishes are very varied, because... these fruits are combined with many products - various types of meat and seafood, fish and vegetables, fruits and berries. From these exotic fruits you can prepare a wide variety of confectionery products, salads, meat and vegetable stews, and drinks. It is impossible to answer unequivocally how to eat papaya correctly, because it is good in fresh, baked, stewed, boiled, dried and canned form. Alcoholic drinks, syrups for cocktails and creams and sauces are even prepared on its basis.

Stuffed papaya

Papaya has an interesting elongated shape, and after cleaning the seeds, a notch is formed in each half of the fruit. Thanks to this, the product can be used for stuffing with various types of fillings. And since stuffed papaya looks very attractive and appetizing, such a dish can take pride of place on the holiday table.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the recipes for stuffed papaya:

• Papaya with rice and shrimp. Ingredients: rice (200 g), shrimp (450 g), papaya (600 g), cream (40 ml), hard cheese (50 g), vegetable broth (500 ml), lemon juice (40 ml), mayonnaise (50 g), onion (1 pc.), vegetable oil (40 ml), water (250 ml). Chop the onion and simmer in oil. Add rice, lightly fry, add broth and simmer with the lid closed for 40 minutes. Pour lemon juice over the shrimp and add to the rice. Prepare the papaya - peel and cut in half. Fill with rice and shrimp mixture. Place some rice on a baking sheet, with papaya pieces on top. Boil water and remove from heat, pour in cream, add cheese and stir until smooth. Cool and combine with mayonnaise. We reserve one part of the sauce for serving, and place the rest on papaya boats.
• Stuffed papaya baked in the oven. Ingredients: unripe papaya tree fruit (2 kg), vegetable oil (40 ml), onion (1 pc.), garlic (1 clove), lean minced pork (500 g), peeled tomatoes (3 pcs.), dry thyme and ground Jamaican pepper (1/4 tsp each), green chili (1 pc.), salt and ground black pepper (to taste), grated hard cheese (100 g), breadcrumbs (30 g), lime ( 1 PC.). Cut the papaya into 2 parts lengthwise, remove the peel and seeds. Dip the pieces into salted boiling water and boil for 10 minutes. Remove and dry, then place on a baking sheet. Heat vegetable oil in a saucepan, add chopped onion and garlic to it, fry for 10 minutes. Add minced pork to this and cook until brownish. Then add tomatoes, chili and flavorings. After 20 minutes, when the mixture thickens, add half the cheese and stir. Then we stuff the papaya. Mix the remaining cheese with breadcrumbs and sprinkle with the “boat” mixture. Place in an oven preheated to 180 degrees and bake for about 40 minutes until done. Decorate the dish with lime wedges.

Papaya with meat

To prepare dishes with meat and papaya, unripe fruits are used, which have a fairly solid structure and hold their shape well during heat treatment, without particularly affecting the taste of the meat.

Recipes for papaya with meat:

• Beef with papaya. Ingredients: beef (600 g), unripe papaya (600 g), onion (1 piece), butter (50 g), lime juice (30 ml), rum (40 ml), balsamic vinegar (10 ml), curry (5 g), cashews (50 g), salt, pepper (to taste). Rinse the meat and place the whole piece in a saucepan, season with curry, salt, pepper and add the onion cut into 4 pieces, add water and cook until tender. At this time, peel and seed the papaya fruit. Cut into cubes and fry a little in butter. Then add rum and lime juice and simmer until the pulp softens. Pour in the vinegar, add pepper and salt and remove the pan from the heat. Cool the boiled meat, dry it and chop it into small slices. Place the beef on a plate, next to it the papaya and garnish the dish with fried nuts.
• . Ingredients: chicken fillet (700 g), papaya (350 g), onion (1 pc.), olive oil (50 ml), salt and black pepper (to taste). First, cut the chicken fillet into cubes, season with salt and pepper and leave to marinate for about 1 hour. At this time, peel and chop the onion into half rings. Peel the papaya, remove all the seeds and cut into cubes. Heat olive oil in a frying pan and fry the chicken and onions in it for about 10 minutes. After this, add papaya, mix and simmer for 20 minutes until cooked.

Salads with papaya

Various salads using papaya are very popular in the cuisines of many countries. There are countless options for combining with other products - vegetables, seafood, fish, various types of meat, numerous flavoring additives.

Papaya salad recipes:

• Thai salad Som Tam. To prepare this popular dish in Thailand, you will need the following ingredients: unripe papaya pulp (300 g), peanuts (30 g), garlic (2 cloves), Thai hot pepper (3 pcs.), dried shrimp (5 tbsp.) , palm sugar (70 g), cherry tomatoes (7 pcs.), lime (1/2 pcs.), fish sauce (1.5 tbsp.), Kenyan beans (100 g). Before peeling papaya, rinse it under running water, then use a potato peeler to remove the green peel and grate the pulp to prepare Korean-style carrots. We place the workpiece in cold water to make the papaya crispy and remove excess starch. Dry the peanuts in a frying pan, then grind them a little in a mortar and put them in a separate plate. Cut the beans into large pieces, removing the outer parts. Crush chili, garlic and shrimp moderately in a mortar and mix with peanuts. Next, mix the prepared papaya with the sauce, knead the whole mass well to combine the taste and aroma of each ingredient. Prepare sugar syrup in a saucepan, bringing it to a thick, shiny mass. We extract juice from the lime, mix it with syrup, beans, fish sauce, chopped tomatoes and papaya. Mix, place on a plate and serve.
• Chicken salad with avocado and papaya. Main ingredients: chicken fillet (500 g), avocado (400 g), ripe papaya (400 g), lemon (1 pc.), garlic (5 cloves), vegetable oil (120 ml), salt, ground red chili pepper (taste). Press the peeled garlic through a press, grind it with salt, add oil and leave for 40 minutes. At this time, squeeze out the lemon juice and mix it with salt and pepper. Pour half the garlic oil into this mass, after removing the garlic itself. Remove the peel from the papaya, cut it in half lengthwise, remove the seeds and cut the pulp into thin slices. Pour half of the dressing into the frying pan, place the papaya in it, add a little water, cover with a lid and simmer for about half an hour. Cut the chicken into thin strips and fry in the remaining garlic oil until cooked, adding a little salt. Peel the avocado, remove the pit, and cut into thin slices. Take a wide flat plate and place avocado, papaya and chicken fillet in any order, forming a beautiful culinary composition. Drizzle with remaining dressing.
• Papaya and crab salad. Ingredients: crab (500 g), papaya (600 g), tomatoes (200 g), red onion (1 pc.), red bell pepper (1 pc.), lemon juice (40 ml), salt and ground black pepper ( to taste), ginger (10 g), chili pepper (1/2 pcs.), coriander greens (20 g). Remove the peel and seeds from the papaya fruits, cut them into cubes, and place them on a wide plate. Peel and chop the ginger, onion and both types of peppers. Blanch the tomatoes to remove the skin, then cut into 4 parts, remove all seeds and cut into cubes. Mix onions, papaya, sweet peppers and tomatoes. Add salt, flavorings, ginger to lemon juice, mix and combine with the rest of the ingredients. Leave the papaya salad for 60 minutes, then add it in portions with crab meat and garnish with coriander.

Desserts with papaya

The sweetish taste of the fruits of the melon tree allows this fruit to be used in the preparation of delicious and healthy exotic desserts. There are countless cooking options, and the taste of the finished dish depends on the imagination of the cook. Papaya goes well with other fruits, yogurt, milk and chocolate cream, and ice cream.

Options for preparing desserts with papaya fruit:

• Creme brulee with papaya and passion fruit. Ingredients: milk custard cream (1 kg), mascarpone cheese (500 g), papaya (300 g), passion fruit (400 g), sugar (150 g). Mix the custard with mascarpone cheese until smooth. Also for preparation you need 8 ceramic molds. Remove the seeds from the passion fruit and add the juice and pulp to the cream. We clean the papaya, cut it into thin slices and place it on the bottom of the molds. Fill the top with cream until completely filled and place in the refrigerator to harden. After this, sprinkle granulated sugar on top and place under a hot grill for a few minutes, waiting for a crust to form from the sugar. Cool and serve.
• Fruit dessert with papaya. Ingredients: pineapple (800 g), mango (400 g), papaya (400 g), lime zest (1 tbsp), sugar (40 g), lime juice (40 ml), butter (125 g), cornmeal porridge (150 g), sugar (50 g), flour (150 g). Preheat the oven to 190 degrees. We clean the fruits and cut them into cubes. Mix with sugar, juice and lime zest. Place at the bottom of a mold with a volume of up to 1.5 liters. Place the butter in a bowl, combine with sugar, flour and corn porridge and grind well until crumbs form. Place the resulting dough on top of the fruit and bake for 45 minutes. Before serving, decorate with cream or custard.
• . Ingredients: papaya melon tree fruit (1 kg), sugar (650 g), lemon zest (1 tbsp), lemon juice (40 ml), water (200 ml). We clean the ripe papaya fruit, remove the seeds from it, and cut the pulp into strips. Prepare sugar syrup by diluting sugar in water and boiling. Add the fruit here and boil for 5 minutes, cool. After a while, repeat boiling twice, and at the end add lemon juice and zest. After this, drain the candied fruits in a colander and leave for 1 hour. Next, dry for 12 hours, sprinkle with powdered sugar and dry for another 48 hours.

When buying tropical fruits in the supermarket, few people think about how papaya grows. But the interesting thing is that this plant can actually have two sexes, just like humans. Male trees pollinate flowers, and the functions of female plants include growing fruits. One of the wonders of nature is connected with this question: male trees can also bear fruit, but they do not grow in clusters, but in a chain.

The papaya paradox lies in the fact that it has not been decided for certain which type of fruit to classify as a vegetable or a fruit. However, skilled chefs were able to find a way out: the product is used as a vegetable when unripe, and as a fruit when ripe.

Papaya has a very varied taste. In addition to the melon taste, there are those reminiscent of carrots or zucchini, there are sweet apricot shades, the Holland variety - the pulp of these small-sized fruits gives off notes of coffee and chocolate, there are “floral” flavor shades. Fans and connoisseurs of these exotic fruits recommend trying unsweetened varieties of papaya.

A few well-known and pleasant-tasting varieties:

1. Holland Papaya (Dutch). In an orange peel, even better with pink sides. In Indonesia this variety is called California.
2. Red Lady. This variety is distinguished by its rounded shape (it is not elongated like the others) and small seed content. It has bright red flesh and a taste unique to this variety.
3. Hawaiian papaya. The name does not reflect the location where this variety grows. It is grown in Thailand. The soft, ripe fruit is very juicy and tastes like chewing gum (like in childhood). In Thailand, the price of 1 kg of fruit is about 40-60 baht (1.5-2 dollars).
4. Solo papaya. It grows only in the Philippines and is small in size and light yellow in color.
5. Papaya torpedo. Her weight is the largest, approximately 4 kg.

One of the names of papaya is melon tree. The fruits are the same amber on the outside, and in shape and taste they resemble a melon.

When the fruit pulp is cooked over a fire, it gives off an inimitable smell of bread crumb.

Papaya fruits and leaves contain papain, which breaks down proteins. Therefore, in some countries, in order to make the meat softer, it is cooked with pieces of this fruit. For example, if a piece of meat is placed in a melon tree leaf, then after a while it becomes more tender.

Watch a video about the benefits and harms of papaya:

Papaya is an exotic fruit, so it rarely appears on our tables. However, given its beneficial properties and special taste characteristics, you should take a closer look at it and definitely try it.

Among the many exotic fruits, papaya is very popular. There are more than a thousand different varieties. Externally, the fruit closely resembles a melon, and for this reason it is often called the “melon tree.” We’ll tell you right now what is special about this fruit and how to eat it correctly.

Peculiarities

Such an exotic fruit as papaya contains many vitamins and beneficial properties. It is thanks to these qualities that this fruit is very loved and appreciated in many countries around the world. In addition, we love it not only because of its benefits and taste, but also because of its low calorie content: one hundred grams of the product contains only 48 kcal.

The main feature of this fruit is that it can be consumed even during diets. In addition, the fruit contains a unique proteolytic element that helps the body better absorb protein products. Also, regular consumption of this exotic fruit helps strengthen the immune system, normalizes blood glucose levels, improves liver function, removes toxins from the body and also has a positive effect on the beauty and health of skin and hair.

If an allergic reaction or individual intolerance is detected, you should avoid eating the fruit. Also, you should not eat papaya if you have problems with the intestines and digestion. An upset stomach may also occur if you eat an unripe fruit.

How to peel and cut papaya?

A seemingly unimpressive, but very healthy exotic fruit that can be easily peeled. To begin with, the fruit should be divided lengthwise into two parts with a sharp knife and all seeds should be removed. This is easy to do with just a regular spoon. In principle, after removing the seeds, you can start eating the fruit itself, using a spoon. Or you can do it differently, for example, divide the fruit in half, remove the seeds and cut into slices, like a melon.

In addition, you can peel the fruit cut in this way with a thin and sharp knife, and then cut it into cubes. It is quite possible to peel the fruit immediately and cut it into rings, removing the seeds along the way. And then cut each ring into arbitrary cubes.

The peel of a ripe fruit is easy to peel, so you don’t need any special tools or special skills.

Methods of use

As a rule, such an exotic fruit is eaten raw. The peel of the fruit is not eaten - it must be peeled off. But you shouldn’t throw away the seeds. They should be thoroughly washed, dried, and after grinding, used instead of pepper for various dishes. The seeds of this exotic fruit are of great benefit.

The fruit must be exceptionally ripe and juicy. In some countries where papaya is especially popular, it is consumed mostly for breakfast. You can also eat the fruit as a dessert for lunch or make a salad from it. In general, it is advisable to eat fruit before the main meal (at least half an hour before), since the beneficial substances contained in the fruit have a beneficial effect on digestion.

Of course, it is correct to consume this fruit yourself. This is what many people do. But due to its unusual smell, it is recommended to consume the fruit along with citrus fruits. Or rather, pour the fresh juice of citrus fruits such as lemon, lime or orange over papaya pieces. Thanks to fresh citrus juice, the taste of papaya becomes much brighter and more interesting. In addition, it is best to eat papaya chilled, as the taste of the pulp becomes richer and sweeter.

It is quite possible to prepare a healthy drink from the pulp of this exotic fruit, for example, a smoothie. To do this, place papaya pulp in a blender, add mineral water and a little lemon juice. The drink will not only be tasty, but also very healthy. Or you can beat the juicy pulp with milk, adding a little vanilla. Makes a great milkshake. If you want to make a fruit salad, then it is worth remembering that this fruit goes well with orange, kiwi, pineapple and lime.

Papaya pulp is also added to various baked goods, such as muffins. Thanks to this, the finished dish acquires a special color and aroma. In addition, it is quite possible to make jam from the fruit.

If you want to cook something unusual, then cut the papaya into pieces and add it to the stir-fry instead of pumpkin or zucchini. In a vegetable or meat dish, the taste of this fruit is revealed in a special way. As you can see, papaya can be consumed in different ways - it all depends on your taste preferences.

To learn how to eat papaya correctly, watch the video below.

Papaya is an exotic tropical fruit that can be bought in many domestic supermarkets. The papaya tree resembles a coconut palm, and the nutritional composition, taste and appearance of the fruit is similar to a melon. Therefore, the plant is often called the melon tree. This fruit is delivered to our country and European countries from Mexico, South Africa and Asian countries.

Sweet juicy fruits are not only very tasty, but also healthy, as they contain many useful substances. It is also a valuable raw material used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

There are many varieties of papaya, but the most popular among consumers are the round, yellow fruits with bright orange flesh and a melon-like scent. The sweet, juicy pulp can be eaten just like that, or can be used to prepare a wide variety of snacks, salads and desserts.

Today we will talk to you about how to prepare desserts with papaya and how to eat papaya fruit correctly:

How to choose a ripe fruit?

In order not to harm your own health, you can only eat them raw or prepare salads and desserts from well-ripened fruits. If they are not very ripe, it is better to use them in the preparation of various dishes, that is, subject them to heat treatment. Unripe fruits contain a strong alkaloid and, if consumed raw, can be harmful to health.

When choosing papaya in a store, pay attention to the following signs of ripeness: the fruit should be firm to the touch, with a smooth, slightly soft skin. The pulp of this fruit is sweet and juicy.

If you bought a not very ripe fruit, do not be upset. Papaya ripens well at normal home temperatures. Keep it for several days in a dark, dry place, where it will gradually ripen. Only then be sure to keep it in the refrigerator, but not longer than a week.

How to eat papaya?

If you bought a juicy, ripe fruit, wash it and dry it with a towel. Then cut in half and remove the seeds with a spoon. Now you can eat the pulp with a spoon or cut it, like cutting a watermelon or melon - into slices.

If you want to put papaya on the holiday table, cut it into slices (like a melon), cut off the peel from each with a sharp knife, and cut the pulp itself into cubes so that it is convenient to prick such a piece with a fork and eat right away.

You can also prepare an assortment of papaya and other fruits, such as kiwi. Simply peel them, cut them and arrange them beautifully on a dish. Cut the papaya into cubes and the kiwi into slices.

Popular desserts with papaya

If you want to cook something tasty and unusual from a tropical fruit, use the recipes presented below. Your family will definitely like them and will not leave your guests indifferent:

Milk dessert

You will need: 2 ripe juicy fruits, total weight about 1 kg, 400 ml of fat milk, 1-2 packs of gelatin (30 g in total) and sugar to your taste.

Preparation:

Pour gelatin with 200 ml of water, leave to swell for 10 minutes. Now mix it with milk and sugar, heat, stirring, almost to a boil, but do not boil. Remove from stove.

Cut the papaya in half lengthwise and remove the seeds using a tablespoon. Pour the milk-gelatin mixture into the depressions. When cool, carefully place in the refrigerator until completely set. Now cut into slices (crosswise), place on a plate and serve.

Curd dessert

This recipe is similar to the previous one, but a little more complicated in preparation and in the composition of ingredients. The dessert tastes excellent and looks beautiful. It can be placed on the holiday table.

We will need: two fruits with a total weight of approximately 1-1.2 kg, half a kilo of full-fat cottage cheese, one and a half glasses of cream of any fat content, 30 g of gelatin, a glass of water, half a glass of sugar or powdered sugar (powdered sugar is better), one lime juice, vanillin - taste.

Preparation:

Pour gelatin with water, leave for 10 minutes to swell. Cut the fruits in half, remove the seeds, cut off the peel. Cut the pulp into small cubes and place in a bowl. Pour over lime juice and stir gently.

Heat the swollen gelatin in a saucepan, stirring constantly, until almost boiling, but do not boil. Remove from the stove and let it cool.

Use a fork to remember the cottage cheese, pour in the cream, add powdered sugar and vanilla, stir until smooth. Pour in the warm gelatin solution and beat everything with a blender.

Place the papaya pieces into molds, pour in the curd-gelatin mass, mix gently and put in the refrigerator until it hardens.

Dessert with soft cheese and honey

We need products: one ripe fruit, weighing approximately 600 g, 3 tablespoons of soft cream cheese (not salted), the same amount of honey and the juice of half a lime.

Preparation:

Cut the papaya lengthwise, remove the seeds, cut off the peel. Cut the pulp and grind with a blender. Place the puree in a bowl, add soft cheese, honey, pour over lime juice, mix well with a fork. Put it in the freezer. After 3-4 hours, remove and beat again with a blender.

Place the whipped mixture in a container, cover with a lid and freeze well in the freezer. Before serving, remove, place in bowls and serve. You can decorate each serving with whipped cream or mint leaves.

Advice for housewives: experienced chefs recommend using papaya pulp to marinate meat. Even very hard pieces after such marinating become soft, juicy, tender and after cooking, acquire an interesting, very pleasant note in taste. Bon appetit!

The papaya tree resembles a cross between a small palm tree and a regular tree. It comes from Central America and therefore thrives in tropical climates with plenty of heat, sun and moisture.

Papaya fruits are round and resemble a medium yellow melon in appearance. They reach up to 20-30 centimeters in diameter and can weigh up to 9 kilograms. The fruit has a thin green and shiny skin, and turns yellow when ripe. Inside the fruit there are numerous small black seeds that taste bitter. One of the most beneficial qualities of papaya is its antioxidant characteristics. Extracts from this fruit are components of many elixirs of youth and anti-aging products.

How to choose the right papaya

It is very important to learn how to correctly determine the degree of ripeness of a fruit. It should not be green or overripe. The peel of the fruit will tell you about this. Well-ripened fruit has a beautiful, uniform yellow color. If the peel is green in most places, this means that the papaya is not yet ready for consumption and it is better to put it in a paper bag in a dark, cool place for ripening. Most likely this will take 2-3 days. Its hardness also indicates the maturity of the fruit. It is soft to the touch and ready to eat.

Avoid buying fruit that is too soft and has dark spots. This suggests that she is overripe. But in any case, it is better to store the papaya fruit in the refrigerator and eat it within 2-3 days.

How to cook papaya

1. Choose a ripe fruit.
2. Cut the papaya in half and remove the seeds. You can discard the seeds or dry them on a baking sheet for later use as a spicy seasoning for salads or meat. Use a knife to peel off the skin. Cut the pulp into slices and place in a beautiful bowl. Eat fruits with or without lemon juice.
3. Use a large spoon to core the papaya along with all its seeds. Fill the cavity with a salad of chopped fruit. You can use bananas, kiwis, oranges and berries of your choice. Add honey, yogurt or cream.
4. Take a large papaya fruit and cut several pieces. Insert a wooden popsicle stick into each one. Place in the refrigerator for several hours. This will make a great treat for hot summer weather.
5. Place finely chopped pieces of fruit in your favorite chicken, tuna or shrimp lard. It will exquisitely sweeten it and add exoticism not only in taste, but also in appearance.
6. You can cook papaya on the grill by cutting it into thin strips. Determine readiness by the appearance of ruddy stripes. Turn the pieces over and keep on the fire on the other side. You will have a great healthy and low calorie snack.

Components

Fresh fruits contain a significant amount of water with very low calorie content (about 25-30 kcal/100 g), low fat content (0.1/100 g), low protein content (0.6 g/100 g) and consist of approximately 10 percent carbohydrates. Papaya is very rich in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium. Vitamins A, C and beta carotene. It is important to note that papaya contains more vitamin C than lemon, orange and kiwi. The fruit is also rich in carotenoids. The value ranges from 3.2 mg/100 g to 4.2/100 g.

Antioxidant properties

Papaya has a high content of molecules with antioxidant activity. This is a very important property for the human body in the fight against many chronic diseases associated with oxidative processes (Alzheimer's disease, cancer, heart attack, etc.). Papaya also provides the amount of beta-carotene, flavonoids, papain, and niacin necessary for a person.

Unripe papaya fruit contains large amounts of latex. This substance is extracted by extraction made
from a cut of an unripe fruit. The contents are then dried, cleaned and sold in local markets the very next day.

Papin, as it is called, increases digestive activity and also has high antimicrobial properties. It is considered very similar in composition to pepsin, an enzyme produced by the human stomach to digest protein. Papain is also used in the treatment of ulcers, against edema, for fever, and also in the prevention of agglomeration after operations. Papin is also widely used in cooking, textile industry, cosmetics and household chemicals. It is important to remember that during pregnancy, the use of drugs with a high content of papain can lead to miscarriage.

For 20 years we have been using a complex technological process of biofermentation of fresh papaya fruits. The substance obtained in this way is rich in valuable amino acids, has a low content of oligosaccharides, vitamin B6 and beta-carotene. The drug is widely used in pharmacology as very effective in the fight against various diseases.

• In order to make the most of its benefits, it is advisable to eat the fruit during meals, and not after it. This is because it is perfectly absorbed in combination with fats.
• If you eat fermented papaya, you should do it half an hour before or an hour after meals.

So, papaya fruits improve digestion, remove toxins from the body, and speed up metabolism. They also increase vitality and stimulate the nervous system, reduce the risk of tumors and prevent premature aging. Large amounts of vitamin C help the immune system fight stress. And the fruits are also very tasty.

It’s already difficult to surprise us with anything in terms of gastronomy, and overseas fruits in supermarkets are no longer a rarity as before, but a common thing. But some fruits remain exotic. For example, papaya. It can be found on sale, but often buyers stop near the product in confusion: what is it and how to eat it? First, let's figure out where it came from and what it is, and then we'll talk about food.

Papaya grows in the tropics. This includes South America, which is considered the birthplace of the fruit, and Southeast Asia, and even in the southern regions of Russia, brave gardeners are trying to grow the overseas fruit. In other latitudes, you can do this at home. The main thing is high humidity and year-round temperature of about 25°C. But “domestic” papaya rarely bears fruit because it does not grow to maturity. In greenhouses, cultivation is possible, but it should be borne in mind that the tree can grow up to 10 m high.

Papaya fruits grow on a palm-shaped tree; in appearance they resemble a melon (hence the other name - melon tree). By the way, about the names: “papaya” is “ababai” assimilated by Europeans, as it was called in India, and “paupau” in other regions. There is also an aboriginal name “mamao”. So here you have both papaya and mamaya.

This tree is also called breadfruit. The reason is that when papaya slices are roasted over a fire, they begin to emit a delicious toasted aroma.

But let's return to botany. This science classifies papaya as a caricaceae, and its Latin name is carica papaya. Papaya has nothing to do with pumpkin plants, of which melon is a representative. It's just similar in appearance. There are several varieties of papaya, and even the wild plant has several varieties.

As for what to call it - a fruit or a vegetable - the debate has been breaking for many years. We agreed that we consider sweet papaya a fruit, and savory papaya a vegetable. Although a lot depends on culinary traditions. For example, we eat onions with meat and vegetables, and in the Baltic countries and Scandinavia they make desserts and jam from them.

The weight of a papaya fruit can reach 4 kg, but there are also small fruits. In the middle there are seeds, like a melon.

Papaya fruits contain:

• proteins;
• carbohydrates;
• vitamins (A, B, C, D);
• glucose;
• fructose;
• microelements (iron, sodium, calcium, phosphorus);
• enzymes (in particular albumin).

Papaya is rich in fiber, which makes it a welcome guest in weight loss diets. It is also included in the diet thanks to papain, a substance that normalizes digestion and helps to extract as much as possible everything useful and nutritious from any food.

And the caloric content is absolutely delightful: from 39 to 45 calories per 100 g, depending on the variety and degree of ripeness. Not kilocalories, but just calories! That is, papaya is super low in calories. And at the same time there is no cholesterol at all.

Beta-carotene colors the flesh of the fruit - from pale yellow to deep orange, like a pumpkin. And this same substance provides a carrot flavor: some varieties of papaya frankly resemble boiled sweet carrots in taste.

Papaya also contains not very useful substances, for example, latex juice. It is quite caustic and very allergenic. The more unripe the fruit, the more of this juice it contains. As latex matures, it neutralizes and turns into ordinary moisture.

The specialty of this tropical fruit is papain. This is a digestive enzyme that cleanses the gastrointestinal tract of toxins, improves digestion and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Eating papaya fruits accelerates the healing of not only external wounds: thanks to this feature of papain, papaya helps to recover from gastritis and ulcers of the stomach and duodenum. The antioxidants present in the fruit purify the blood and prolong life. Research is being conducted on papaya preparations intended for the prevention and treatment of cancer.

The effect of papaya on blood sugar levels has been noted. It also improves liver function. You can use it to alleviate the condition of patients with bronchial asthma.

Dried or dried papaya has the same properties as fresh fruit., but this processing method increases the concentration of nutrients and increases calorie content - up to 327 kcal per 100 g of product. It is used like all other dried fruits when preparing diets for weight loss. Dried papaya is useful for disorders of the pancreas. The dried fruit has a beneficial effect on the heart and blood vessels: with constant consumption of a small amount of papaya, the heart rate is normalized.

Candied papaya- These are small pieces of fruit boiled in sugar syrup and dried. Due to the high sugar content, this product cannot be called dietary, but this does not prevent it from being used for making desserts. Such candied fruits are an excellent source of energy during camping conditions and when it is not possible to eat properly. For energy snacks, candied papaya is a very good option.

Papaya oil is not used as food, but it is an excellent cosmetic product. It is used to improve the condition:

• skin;
• hair;
• nails

Papaya oil moisturizes, nourishes and has antiseptic properties. Due to this, it is widely used to combat dandruff and dry scalp. It should be remembered that this herbal substance is potent, so when used, it is mixed with other components to obtain nourishing and healing masks. The proportion of papaya oil in such formulations should not exceed 5%. Oil is extracted from seeds.

The seeds are useful not only for their oil. When ground into powder, they are used as an effective anthelmintic. To prepare such preparations, only the seeds of ripe fruits are used.

Papaya is extremely widespread as an agricultural crop also due to the fact that all parts of this plant can be used for human benefit. Medicinal infusions are made from the roots and leaves; lightly beaten leaves help soften tough pieces of meat thanks to the papain they contain. The same substance is extracted from unripe but already formed fruits, collecting the milky juice that flows from the cuts. While this juice is liquid, it is used to remove warts. Tablets containing papain are prescribed for the treatment of herpes, and the same substance is included in drugs used to treat osteochondrosis and degenerative changes in the bone tissue of the spine.

The juice and mashed pulp are used to treat burns, skin ulcers, and psoriasis. Fresh juice relieves itching, swelling and pain after insect bites. Mashed papaya pulp and juice mixed with other ingredients are included in face masks. Such masks improve skin color, nourish and moisturize it, and help fight acne and blackheads. Masks with papaya prevent age-related skin aging and drying out in the sun.

Women appreciated papaya not only as a cosmetic product. The fruits of this tree help normalize the menstrual cycle, and the concentrated product, which is prepared from them by residents of India, Thailand and other countries of Southeast Asia, is used for contraception, as well as to terminate an unwanted pregnancy.

Small portions of papaya are useful for the gastrointestinal tract, as they stimulate digestion - they are added to main dishes, sauces and dressings are prepared from the fruit. For peptic ulcers and gastritis, papaya promotes the healing of ulcers because it normalizes the acidity of gastric juice. A large amount of fiber allows you to activate peristalsis, “start” the intestines and prevent constipation. Papaya helps fight morning sickness syndrome during pregnancy: a small piece before breakfast is enough to avoid the urge to vomit and eat normally.

The main contraindication is hypersensitivity and individual intolerance. Excessive consumption of raw papaya, which contains the alkaloid carpaine, can lead to dyspepsia (diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, belching) and mild burns of the mucous membranes. The risk of undesirable consequences increases if the fruit is unripe: it contains a large amount of milky juice, which irritates the intestines.

Papaya - beneficial properties: video

If you are trying papaya for the first time locally, during a vacation in the tropics, then you will be offered a ripe fruit at the market. Unripe papaya is picked and transported to other countries to ripen after being harvested. Of course, such fruits will be inferior in taste to those collected locally.

The ripe fruit is soft, with a yellowish-orange skin. The color may vary slightly among different varieties, from a reddish “blush” to a greenish tint. The presence of a small number of dark spots does not affect the taste. But the presence of dents, dented parts and large spots indicates that the papaya is either overripe or has spoiled due to improper storage and transportation.

The peel color is not intense enough and the fruits are harder to the touch in unripe papaya; it is better to leave such fruits for a couple of days to sit and ripen. To speed up ripening, place papaya next to bananas. But it will still taste inferior to the one ripened on the tree.

Good ripe fruits can be recognized by their pleasant characteristic aroma, reminiscent of raspberries (some varieties smell like melon, chocolate, apricot). An unpleasant smell is a reason to refuse a purchase. The peel of the fruit should be dry.

You should not buy fruits that have obvious spots of rot, scratches, cracks or other damage. If you have already bought such a papaya, you need to clean it as quickly as possible, removing everything spoiled and unnecessary, and eat it right away.

Although it looks like a melon, you should not cut papaya the same way - cut in half, remove the seeds and cut into slices. Most often, the ripe fruit is washed, cut into two parts, the gelatinous center with seeds is removed, after which the tender pulp is either eaten with a spoon, or separated from the peel, cut into pieces and eaten with a special fruit fork.

This applies to sweet ripe papaya. If we have a slightly unripe fruit, which we conventionally consider a vegetable, then its pulp is cut more finely, it can be grated or sliced ​​like chips for further processing and use in dishes. This papaya is added to meat and fish dishes, seafood salads, etc. It is used to make salsa and marinades to tenderize meat.

How to eat papaya: video

Papaya Recipes

The easiest thing you can do with papaya is to simply cut it up and eat it. Fans can sprinkle the cut pieces with lemon, orange or lime juice. But there are other recipes with this fruit for preparing main courses, appetizers, salads and baked goods, and even soft drinks - for example, smoothies with papaya and peaches, apricots, raspberries, strawberries, etc.

Duck breasts are delicious garnished with papaya. To do this, the breasts are grilled (skin side first) until cooked, so that when pierced, the juice releases clear. Peel and cut a medium papaya into medium cubes, add soy sauce, olive oil, a little honey and a handful of finely chopped green onions and cilantro. Mix. Cut the duck breasts into slices and place them on plates, with a side dish of papaya next to them.

Papaya salad

To prepare a delicious vitamin salad, take:

• one papaya;
• one sweet onion (you can take red Crimean onion, or you can take white salad onion);
• a small pod of chili pepper;
• 2 tbsp. l sugar (preferably brown);
• 2 tbsp. l soy sauce;
• 2 tbsp. spoons of lemon juice.

The recipe is simple: chop the seeded and peeled papaya into long noodles, thinly slice the onion into half rings, cut and peel the chili seeds, season it all with sugar, freshly squeezed lemon juice and soy sauce.

Green papaya salad: video

Papaya is suitable for preparing delicious dishes and using it for the treatment and prevention of diseases. In order for fruits to bring only benefits, you need to know which fruits can be eaten, how and what to cook from them, and who should refrain from such dishes.