Enjoy Some “Fruit of the Angels” this Summer!

Papayas are delicious melon-like fruits that have been enjoyed by Americans since Christopher Columbus dubbed them the “fruit of the angels” back in the 15^th century.   Pear shaped, with yellow skin and orange, buttery flesh, papayas grow on a large herb plant that’s often mistaken for a tree. They thrive in tropical or subtropical temperatures, with Hawaii, Mexico and Puerto Rico being the largest commercial producers of the fruit today.

Nutritionally, papayas are rich in vitamins A, C and E and potassium, calcium and iron. Their antioxidant content may be the reason for papayas’ protective health benefits, which include supporting a normal inflammatory response in the body. Papayas also contain papain, an enzyme that helps break down protein in the diet, promoting healthy digestion.

To eat a papaya, simply slice it in half and scoop out the seeds. Remove the peel and cut it into slices or cubes, or use a melon baller or spoon to scoop out the fruit. To enhance the flavor, sprinkle on a little lemon or lime juice before eating.

A few tips:

Generally sold green, papayas have to be ripened at home to turn them sweet and fragrant.

• For a sweeter fruit, look for papayas that are hot yellow and rather soft to the touch.
• Slice the fruit down the middle, lengthwise, and with a spoon scoop out the seeds. Cut the halves into sections and peel each section with a paring knife.
• Store fresh-cut cubes in a sealed container for up to four days, depending on how the ripeness of the fruit.
• Both the fruit and the seeds are edible.  If you don’t want to eat them, you can toss the seeds or use them to grow your own papaya plant.

Here are more ways to enjoy papaya fruit:

• Make a papaya smoothie or shake. Blend together fruit, ice, milk (or soymilk) and sweetener of choice.
• Add papaya cubes to salads (including chicken, tuna or shrimp salads).
• Make a fruit salad with chunks of papaya and other seasonal fruits.
• Make papaya salsa with papaya cubes; diced red, green and yellow peppers; chopped cilantro; olive oil; and lime juice.
• Chilled, sliced lengthwise (as you might slice a wedge of honeydew melon) and served with a generous sprinkling of lime.
• Blended with water, lime juice and a touch of sugar, and poured into an ice cube tray. Pop out a frozen cube and slurp it as you would an ice pop.
• Ripened and smashed into cream or half and half with honey or sugar, and poured into a rectangular, freezer-proof container to make a homey gelato.
• Insert popsicle sticks into papaya slices and freeze.
• Use a dehydrator to dry papaya.
• Mash papaya and use as soothing facial mask.
• Combine papaya, coconut milk and honey for a deep hair conditioner.

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Photo Credit:  Doucefleur / Shutterstock.com