One hundred and one uses for a Papaya – well not quite but if your dietitian has suggested you eat them for gut health or you have a glut of them from your garden, here’s a few recipes from Papaya Australia that just might help out.
Immune-Boosting Papaya and Chicken Salad
By Dietitian Caitlin Reid for Papaya Australia
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
• ½ Australian papaya, sliced
• ½ cup quinoa
• 1 avocado, chopped
• 200g punnet cherry tomatoes, halved
• ¼ cup mint
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 1 cos lettuce, shredded
• 1 BBQ chicken with skin and bones removed and shredded
• 100g Greek feta, crumbed
Method
1. Cook quinoa according to directions on the packet.
2. In a bowl, toss cherry tomatoes, avocado and mint with lime zest and olive oil. Leave to marinate.
3. Place shredded lettuce in bowl. Scatter chicken and quinoa on top.
4. Toss through tomato, avocado and mint mix.
5. Place papaya slices on top of salad.
6. Crumble feta over the top and serve.
Mood-Boosting Papaya and Lime Cake
Serves: 12
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Ingredients
• ½ Australian papaya, sliced and ½ of the slices cut in half
• 1 cup coconut sugar
• ½ cup olive oil
• 2 eggs, lightly whisked
• 1 tbsp grated lime rind
• 1/3 cup lime juice
• 1 cup plain Greek yoghurt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 ¼ cups self-raising flour
• Icing sugar, for dusting
Method
1. Pre-heat oven to 180oC.
2. Grease a 22cm springform cake tin
3. Place coconut sugar, olive oil, eggs, lime rind, lime juice, yoghurt and vanilla extract into bowl and mix for 1 minute or until well combined.
4. Add self-raising flour and mix until lump free.
5. Pour ½ of the mixture into cake tin. Smooth mixture and top with halved papaya slices.
6. Pour remaining mixture into cake tin. Smooth mixture and top with remaining papaya slices.
7. Bake for 50 minutes. Cover with foil and cook for another 10 minutes, or until skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
8. Cool in cake tin for 10 minutes before removing. Dust with icing sugar before serving.
PAPAYA ‘LOX’ BAGEL
Makes 4
Prep time- 10 minutes
Ingredients
1 small @australianpapaya
4 Bagels
Macadamia cream cheese (see below)
1 Tbsp capers
2 sprigs fresh dill
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1 baby cucumber, thinly sliced
Salt and pepper, to taste
Macadamia cream cheese
1 cup raw macadamia nuts, soaked 2 hours
2 Tbsp coconut yoghurt
1 tsp lemon juice
2-4 Tbsp filtered water
1/4 tsp fine grain salt
Method
If making the macadamia cream cheese:
1. Drain nuts, then place in a high-powered blender with remaining ingredients (starting with only 2 Tbsp water). Blitz until very smooth, adding more water if necessary. Transfer to a clean jar and set aside.
To assemble the bagels
1. Prepare papaya by cutting in half, and using a very sharp knife to remove skin and seeds. Take care to cut the papaya into even slices, about 3-4mm thick. Set aside.
2. Cut bagels in half and spread generously with cream cheese. Add 3-4 slices of papaya, then top each bagel with cucumber, onion, a 1 tsp capers, dill and salt and pepper. Press bagels in a sandwich press until lightly browned, and enjoy straight way.
Recipe credit: Panaceas Pantry for Australian Papaya
PAPAYA CHIA PUDDING JARS WITH CHOCOLATE NICECREAM AND GRANOLA
Makes 2 large or 4 small
Prep time 10 minutes, plus soaking time (30 mins)
Ingredients
1 medium-sized @australianpapaya
1/3 cup yoghurt of choice
1/2 cup Granola
Chia pudding
1/2 cup white chia seeds
2 1/3 cups coconut milk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 Tbsp lime juice
1 tsp lime zest
Chocolate nice cream
2 frozen bananas, chopped
1 Tbsp cacao powder
2 Tbsp coconut milk
Method
1. Make chia pudding by adding all ingredients to a bowl and whisking together. Set in the fridge for 20 minutes.
2. Cut the papaya in half, and remove the skin and seeds. Put half the papaya in a small blender and blitz until smooth, then dice the other half. Set aside.
3. In a clean blender, add the nice cream ingredients and blitz into a smooth, thick consistency (you will need to use the tamper).
4. Assemble your jars (or put everything in a bowl!)- create layers or papaya, chia pudding, granola and yoghurt, then top with nice cream and papaya chunks. Enjoy immediately.
Recipe credit: Panaceas Pantry for Australian Papaya
