Papaya surprises
A food blogger shows us how to make some seriously delectable dishes using the humble papaya
Papaya, a regular at most of our breakfast tables, as it helps to regulate bowel movement. It is an excellent source of Vitamin C, which provides 224% of the recommended daily intake. Papayas are easily available in both the forms — raw and ripe — with which a variety of delectable dishes can be made. Raw papayas can be used for making dips, salads, curries as well as melt-in-mouth kebabs. The ripe fruit can be used in making shakes, smoothies and desserts like halwas. Shagufta Gulnar, a food blogger on Instagram and an operations controller in a top company, shares healthy and nutritious recipes using papaya.
PAPAYA HALWA PARFAIT
(Serves 4; 350–360 kcal per bowl)
INGREDIENTS
Medium ripe papaya: 1 medium-sized Desiccated grated coconut: 2 cups Plain biscuits (e.g., Mariegold or ParleG): 1 packet
Almonds, raisins and cashews: A handful
Ghee: 2 tbsp
Sugar: 4 tbsp (depending upon the sweetness of papaya) Cardamom powder for sprinkling
Vanilla ice cream: 4 scoops Mint for garnishing
METHOD OF PREPARATION
Crush the biscuits and set it aside. Grate the medium ripe papaya with a hand grater and strain the water using a sieve.
Heat the ghee in a pan and add nuts and raisins to it and fry till the nuts turn golden and raisins bulge out.
Now take them out from the pan and set aside.
In the same pan, containing the ghee add grated papaya and stir well.
After 2 minutes, add the desiccated coconut and stir continuously till the water evaporates.
To the above add sugar; mix thoroughly and let it cook for a while. Now add and mix the fried nuts and raisins to the above. Sprinkle cardamom powder over it. The halwa is ready. Set it aside. Layer crushed biscuits at the bottom of the serving bowls
Make the next second layer of the warm halwa, followed by another layer of crushed biscuits.
Finally, place a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the top.
Garnish with nuts and mint leaves and enjoy the combination of hot halwa with chilled ice cream.
METHOD OF PREPARATION
To make the filling add yogurt, chopped onion, 1 tsp chopped coriander and mint leaves in a small bowl. To it, add the salt as per taste.
Mix well and set the filling aside.
Now to make the kebabs, in a bowl add grated, boiled mashed potatoes and all the spices, salt with chopped green chillies, mint leaves and coriander leaves.
Add bread crumbs to the above and mix well. The kebab mix is ready.
To make the kebabs take the above mix in your hand and add the fresh yogurt filling in them.
Make small patty-shaped kebabs with the mix and filling. Heat oil in a pan and shallow fry for crispy and delicious kebabs.
Garnish with onion rings, lemon wedges and mint leaves.
Serve hot and serve with green chutney.
Papaya is excellent for weight loss because of its low calorie count. Because the fruit is also a good source of fiber, papaya isn’t only physically satisfying — it’ll also help you stay full longer.