Savory Papaya Bowl

Culinary Art: The Non-Recipe Papaya Framework

RECIPE... ookay well, I would love to give you one but there is no recipe. It is a concept. You have free reign to put WTF you wanna put in your papaya but I will share the base method and then you make your own magic, deal?

Papayas and vinegar have something in common: they are chameleons! They can go sweet or savory and together they are a sweet and sour heaven. Whether you are just adding a spritz of vinegar to a fresh piece of fruit or you are splashing soy sauces and chilis on there too, it totally works.

🧬 The Ultimate Natural Sauce

The papaya is like a sauce. Instead of using a fructose like ketchup paste created in a factory, just smash up some papaya. Maybe blend it with a little chipotle and tomato for a lovely sauce? Toss in some vinegar? It is a great way to add a sauciness to a meal. Then we found just eating the papaya on its own with savory food creates that sauce vibe so it becomes super versatile and you can make it as complex or simple as you please!

We are certainly not new to the idea of savory fruit, I mean we literally turn fruit into vinegar and many of our recorded recipes incorporate the concepts. But there was a day not too long ago where I was eating papaya and yogurt alongside chicken thighs (btw you gotta try this) when it occurred to me: "this would make the most epic beautiful papaya bowl!!!"

I just love when this happens. Instant inspiration and then you start eating these like it is your job. We are obsessed. Like I want to eat rice noodles out of a papaya. I want my steak in a papaya. Everything needs to be in a papaya now. Ya know, it is like starting with a beautiful under-wash on your white canvas, it just makes everything come to life. OMG the pinks and the greens with the orange! You even have different size papayas: long, round, small and cute. You have got your darker orange strawberry papaya or your bright solo! It is so fun.

Of course, we do not always take the time to make our papayas beautiful. Sometimes it just gets thrown on the plate with steak, but when we take the time to plate them, it is always worth the effort. I swear food digests better when you take the time to plate it. It slows me down and creates a deep sense of fulfillment and gratitude.

🥣 The 4-Step Papaya Method

• Step 1: Pick Your Perfect Papaya
  Consider a ripe one that still has a little firmness so it holds its shape but is easy enough to scoop the ripe fruit from the center while you eat.
• Step 2: Peel Before You Cut
  This is not critical but it makes it easier to eat the whole thing instead of scraping from the skin later. You can cut that last bit fork and knife style.
• Step 3: Scoop the Seeds
  Perhaps keep them and blend them into that chipotle tomato papaya sauce mentioned earlier. That would add a nice peppery note and it is great for parasites!
• Step 4: Get Wildly Creative
  What is your favorite pasta? Put that in a papaya. You like stir-fry? Papaya. Or get all artsy and start building your colors and layers. Maybe some vinegar-pickled purple onion for a little pink pop? Wasabi for bright green? Some herbs, spices, yogurt, or rice for your white? Maybe add some dragon fruit sambal over top!

Feeling like an artist and want to learn how to stack colors in your kitchen?