Buzz
Next time you cut open a ripe papaya, don't discard its small round seeds! While papaya seeds have a slightly spicy and bitter taste, research shows they have medicinal benefits. Try adding fresh papaya seeds to your favorite dishes, such as smoothies, salad dressings, or marinades. If you prefer, you can dry the seeds and grind them into a fine powder, which can be used as a substitute for black pepper.
Steps
Enjoy Fresh Papaya Seeds
Cut the papaya in half and scoop out the seeds. Place the ripe papaya on a cutting board and slice it lengthwise. Use a spoon to remove the seeds from both halves.
- You can eat the papaya right away or store it in the fridge. Place the papaya in an airtight container and keep it for up to 5-7 days.
Add 1 tablespoon (15 g) of papaya seeds to your smoothie. While papaya seeds can add a bitter taste to your smoothie, you can balance it out to make it more pleasant. Try blending fresh papaya seeds with the following ingredients:
- 1 cup of sliced pineapple
- 1 cup of chopped papaya
- 1 tablespoon (15 g) of fresh papaya seeds
- 1 teaspoon (2 g) of fresh ginger
- 120 ml of water
- 120 ml of coconut milk
- 3-4 ice cubes
- Honey to taste
Sprinkle fresh papaya seeds on your dishes as a unique seasoning. If you want to incorporate papaya seeds into your diet or just add a unique garnish, sprinkle 2-3 seeds over your meal before serving. For example, you can use papaya seeds to decorate salads, soups, grilled meats, or roasted vegetables.
- You can use the seeds whole or crush them before sprinkling.
Grind papaya seeds to make a Hawaiian-style salad dressing. To create a sweet and tangy dressing for a salad with greens, sliced onions, or papaya, blend all ingredients until smooth. Here's what you need:
- 1/3 cup (60 ml) rice vinegar
- 1/3 cup (60 ml) canola oil
- Half a small sweet onion
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1.5 tablespoons of fresh papaya seeds
Create a flavorful marinade for chicken, beef, or pork. Scoop the seeds from one papaya into a bowl and mix with 1 clove of minced garlic, 1/4 cup (60 ml) coconut milk, 2 tablespoons of chopped cilantro, and 1 tablespoon of finely chopped fresh ginger. Zest one lime and one lemon into the bowl, then squeeze the juice from both fruits. Add your choice of meat into the marinade and refrigerate for 1-24 hours.
- Remove the meat from the marinade before cooking, place it on a hot grill, and cook until the desired doneness is reached.
Blend papaya seeds with vinegar and spices to make a spicy sauce. Add 6 tablespoons (90 g) of fresh papaya seeds to a blender with 4 tablespoons (60 ml) of apple cider vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 g) of salt, 1/2 teaspoon (6 g) of honey, and 1 clove of garlic. Blend everything until smooth.
- Use this spicy sauce as a replacement for sriracha or Tabasco sauce.
Tip: If you prefer a spicier sauce, you can add 3/4 teaspoon (0.5g) of fresh horseradish.
Dry and Grind Papaya Seeds
Cut the papaya in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Place the ripe papaya on a cutting board and use a knife to slice it lengthwise. Then, use a spoon to scoop out all the seeds from both halves of the papaya.
- To select a ripe papaya, look for one with yellowish skin and gently press on it. A ripe papaya will feel slightly soft.
Rinse the papaya seeds under cold water. Place the seeds in a fine mesh strainer and rinse them under cold running water. You can rub them with your hands to remove the sticky membrane surrounding the seeds. Continue rinsing until you no longer feel the membrane on the seeds.
- It's important to thoroughly remove the outer membrane, as leaving it on can spoil the seeds.
Preheat the oven to 66°C (150°F) and spread the papaya seeds on a baking tray. Line the tray with parchment paper and spread the papaya seeds in a single layer on the tray. This helps them dry faster.
- The parchment paper will prevent the seeds from sticking to the tray once they are dry.
Dry papaya seeds for 2-4 hours. Place the papaya seeds tray in the oven to dry them. The seeds will become firm and slightly wrinkled once dry.
- If you prefer, you can use a food dehydrator to dry the papaya seeds. Check the manual to determine the drying time for different seed types.
Grind the seeds and use papaya seed powder as a substitute for ground black pepper. Once the papaya seeds have cooled, you can place them in a mortar and pestle, grinding until the desired texture is achieved. Try using ground papaya seeds in place of black pepper.
- You can store dried papaya seeds at room temperature for years, as long as they remain dry. Discard the seeds if they show any signs of mold.
Tip: If you want to grind a large batch of papaya seeds, you can use a spice grinder to process as many seeds as you need.
Mix ground papaya seeds with other spices to make a flavorful seasoning mix. Create a robust seasoning by combining dried, ground papaya seeds with cayenne pepper, sea salt, and garlic powder in equal parts. You can also incorporate papaya seeds into your favorite herbs or spices, like Egyptian fennel, curry powder, or coriander powder.
- Rub the seasoning mix onto steaks, chicken breasts, or pork ribs before grilling to add a smoky flavor.
Try adding ground papaya seeds to baked goods. Incorporate 2 teaspoons (2-4 grams) of ground papaya seeds along with spices and baking powder or baking soda into your baking recipes. For example, you can add ground papaya seeds to papaya muffin recipes, banana bread, or spiced bread.
- Ground papaya seeds will lend a slightly spicy flavor to your baked goods. You might also consider adding them to savory breads or cookies!
Advice
- Papaya seeds have a taste that you may come to enjoy once you're accustomed to it. If you don't like the taste on your first try, give it another go!
- You can eat fresh papaya seeds, but they have a bitter taste and may cause stomach discomfort. Start by eating just 1-2 seeds to see how your body reacts before consuming more.
Warning
- If you're pregnant, make sure to choose ripe papayas. Unripe papayas contain a substance that could trigger contractions.
What You’ll Need
Eat fresh papaya seeds
- Knife and cutting board
- Spoon
Dry and grind papaya seeds
- Spoon
- Fine mesh strainer
- Knife and cutting board
- Baking tray with edges
- Parchment paper
- Mortar and pestle or spice grinder
