FoodPapaya power: Harnessing enzyme-rich fruit in your kitchen

Papaya power: Harnessing enzyme-rich fruit in your kitchen

Papaya is a fruit that surprises with its extraordinary properties in the kitchen. It turns out that not only its juicy flesh but also the skin of the papaya can play an important role in preparing delicious and tender dishes.

Add papaya skin to make the meat in the stew tender.
Add papaya skin to make the meat in the stew tender.
Images source: © Adobe Stock | Elzbieta Sekowska

If you want your stew to be exceptionally tender and full of flavour, it's worth using papaya. Thanks to the papain content, a natural enzyme, the papaya skin acts as a meat tenderizer, giving the dishes unparalleled delicacy.

Papaya properties

Papaya is a fruit that has gained great popularity worldwide in recent years, not only because of its unique taste but also its health properties. Originating from the tropical regions of Central and South America, papaya is rich in vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that support health.

The most valuable component of papaya is the enzyme called papain, which has proteolytic properties. This means it helps in breaking down proteins, making it an excellent natural meat tenderizer. Additionally, papaya is a source of vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, and fibre, which improves digestion and boosts immunity. Therefore, consuming papaya can contribute to overall health and well-being.

Moreover, papaya is low in calories, so it is often recommended for those concerned about their figure. Thanks to the antioxidants, such as carotenoids, papaya also has anti-inflammatory properties and supports skin health.

How to use papaya in the kitchen?

Papaya is a fruit that offers great possibilities in the kitchen. Although it is often eaten raw as a delicious, refreshing fruit, it is worth exploring other ways to use it. Papaya pairs well with both sweet and savoury dishes, and its unique properties allow it to be used in many different ways.

  1. Salads: Papaya works perfectly in salads, especially tropical ones. It can be combined with pineapple, avocado, fresh mint, or coconut. Such a salad will be not only tasty but also vitamin-rich.
  • Juices and smoothies: You can make healthy and nutritious smoothies with papaya. Simply blend the fruit's flesh with yogurt, coconut milk, or orange juice. Papaya combined with banana or strawberries gives an exceptional, tropical taste.
    • It's worth adding papaya to the meat when you want to tenderize it.
    It's worth adding papaya to the meat when you want to tenderize it.© Adobe Stock | tonekale
  • Desserts: Papaya in desserts is a true delight. It can be used to make sorbets, mousses, or jams. Thanks to its sweetness, papaya goes well with other fruits, creating light and healthy desserts.
  • Savoury dishes: Papaya is also perfect for savoury dishes. It can be added to curries, sauces, and stews. Its meat-tenderizing properties make it indispensable in preparing meat dishes, giving them tenderness and juiciness.

    • How does papaya skin tenderize meat for stew?

    Papaya is known not only for its taste but also for its properties that make it an indispensable ingredient in the kitchen, especially for meat dishes. The key ingredient in papaya responsible for its meat-tenderizing action is papain—a natural enzyme that helps break down proteins. This makes papaya an excellent meat tenderizer, indispensable in preparing stews, braised meats, and other dishes requiring long cooking times.

    How does it work? Papaya skin, containing the highest concentration of papain, can be used to tenderize tougher cuts of meat. Simply slice it into pieces and add it to the marinade or directly into the pot with the cooking stew. Enzymes in papaya effectively break down proteins in the meat, making it tender, juicy, and easier to chew. Papaya not only improves the texture of the meat but also imparts a subtle, tropical flavour that enriches the entire dish.