Fruit

Chef Wally's Savory Baked Papaya

by:
April 26, 2011
4.8
4 Ratings
  • Serves 2
Author Notes

A delicious savory papaya dish that comes from a childhood family friend. Recipe is for 2 servings but can easily be increased. —CharlesGT

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • Ingredients
  • 2 papayas, ripe
  • 1/4 cup fine bread stuffing
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup onion, finely diced
  • 1 tomato, skinned & chopped
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • salt
  • pepper
  • Method
  • 1 Papaya
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Mix the stuffing and Parmesan cheese together in a bowl and set aside. Cut papayas in half length-wise, remove and throw away black seeds. Dig the meat out of each half with a spoon leaving the remaining shell intact for refilling later, chop the meat coarsely then set aside. Skin and chop the tomato and set aside. Finely dice the onion.
  3. Heat the butter in a skillet until it bubbles then add the onions and cook until clear not brown. Add the papaya meat. Add the tomato. Stir the whole mixture together. Season with salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring gently from time to time. When mixture is thick, after several minutes, turn off the fire.
  4. Place the papaya shells in a casserole dish in a half-inch of water so they won’t burn. Spoon the cooked mixture into the shells evenly. Top each off with the bread crumb-Parmesan mixture. Dot each with butter.
  5. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until the tops are brown.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Patricia Jackley
    Patricia Jackley
  • TiggyBee
    TiggyBee
  • CharlesGT
    CharlesGT
  • Kittentamer
    Kittentamer

7 Reviews

Kittentamer July 17, 2022
This is a great recipe! I have done this a few ways, I’ve added ground pork or chunked chicken and made it into a 1 dish meal. I also squeeze fresh lime juice to “neutralize“ the enzyme that makes papaya taste unpleasant to some. This is a great recipe as is or as a base for all in one dish!
 
CharlesGT July 17, 2022
Thank you so much! I love how you've adapted it. I'm going to try a couple of your ideas next time I make it.
 
Patricia J. June 9, 2018
We live in South Florida and interestingly, we started the papaya trees from seeds left in half of a papaya purchased at the grocery store!! Those little seeds produced 6 healthy trees (they grow very fast); and one tree has at least 15 papayas! I am always interested in finding great recipes like this, thank you so much! It makes it very rewarding to cook from food home grown.
 
Patricia J. June 8, 2018
Having just harvested over 8 papayas from our backyard trees, I thought this recipe was one I would try. These were exceptional!!!! They were simple to prepare and most ingredients you already have in your pantry/refrig. We served with lightly sautéed tilapia and it was heaven! Thanks for posting a delicious recipe!
 
CharlesGT June 8, 2018
Hi, Patricia! Where do you live that you can grow and harvest papayas!? So envious. And, so glad the recipe worked for you. It's a simple yet exotic dish!
 
TiggyBee April 27, 2011
What a cool recipe! I bet these would be great with some pork. Thanks for sharing it.
 
CharlesGT April 27, 2011
Thank you, and yes they go very well with pork. They also work well with fish. Happy cooking!