green papaya

[ephmeralgrl]

Recently I went to a new Asian Supermarket, (it is HUGE, like the size of a safeway!) I could not wait to get to the produce section. The problem was knowing how to eat all this interesting produce. For instance, they had these huge green papayas. So are these the same as the smaller ones? Would I use them the same way? How do you know when they are ripe? I wanted to go up to one of the asian shoppers there and ask them, may next time. One item I knew was the Thai young coconuts, 2 for 1.00 !! My compost bin will be full of coconut shells! :D

[karenisraw]

I am not sure but I think the big green ones are the same as the little ones. I would love to go to that store.

[berrienoire]

I believe you are seeing the same papayas as the smaller ones, though I'm still not all that great at knowing exactly when they are ripe :o

[DrPr]

My understanding is that the huge papayas are "Mexican papayas". I love them- they are sweet and juicy (great if you have a juicer). I think the small ones are great, too, but the big ones - at least in the southwest where I am- are called Mexican.

[RowanC]

3 cloves garlic, peeled & diced
3 gresh green chile peppers (if you like it HOT, otherwise omit)
12 green beens, sliced lengthwise in teensy strips
1 tomatoe, seeded, and cut into bitesized pieces
Juice from 1/2 lime
1 teaspoon honey or agave nectar
1 teaspoon seaweed powder (any type) mixed into enough water to make a paste
1 large unripe papaya, peeled and shredded or cut into very thin strips
Raw chopped peanuts (a small handful)


Peel and shred your papaya. (discard the seeds)
Wash and slice the beans and prepare the tomatoe.
Chop the peppers tiny (discard seeds)
Put it all in a bowl.

Mix the lime juice, seaweed paste, and honey and pour this dressing over the salad. Mix it up good. You can store this in the fridge until ready to eat it.

Sprinkle on the chopped nuts when you eat it.

[ephmeralgrl]

RC- the salad sounds great, I loved green papaya salad when I was in SE Asia. I think these green papayas are a different variety then I am used to seeing. They are named green papayas, no matter their level of ripeness. They are HUGE. I wanted to try one, but felt the need for more info first, so thanks all for the input!!