PAPAYA OR PAPITA FRUIT - A GIFT FROM GOD: INFORMATION, PICTURES AND PAPAYA AND COTTAGE CHEESE RECIPE

PAPAYA OR PAPITA

PAPAYA OR PAPITA FRUIT TREE

PAPAYA or PAWPAW

The papaya or pawpaw (papita in Urdu), is native to South America. It is thought that it has been cultivated from a wild variety that was virtually inedible and bitter, so we have this tasty, juicy, exotic fruit thanks to the painstaking efforts of South American Indians. The papaya was first documented by the Spanish chronicler Oviedo in 1526, when it was discovered along the Caribbean coastline of Panama and Colombia.

It can be grown from seeds and the tree grown from a seed will be fruit bearing 18 months after planting. The seeds are edible, and have a peppery taste, and can be used as a pepper substitute. They can be used in salads. For centuries, South Americans have used the juice of the papaya to tenderize meat. In Asia the leaves are steamed and eaten as a green vegetable, and the green fruit is used in Thai salads. Teas made from the leaves are said to be effective against malaria.

PAPAYA WITH COTTAGE CHEESE
Ingredients
1 papaya sliced in half and seeds removed

250 gr cottage cheese

1 lime
30 gr toasted almonds
freshly ground black pepper and salt if you wish
2 mint leaves to garnish


Method
Sprinkle the papaya halves with lime juice, then pile in the cottage cheese. Top with pepper, almonds and garnish with mint leaves.
Serves 2.