Gluten-Free Papaya Spice Cake

Spice cake has a downright cozy taste. If there’s fruit in a spice cake, odds are good that it’s apple, and it makes you think of sitting in front of a fireplace. The fireplace becomes a beach when the fruit in spice cake is Caribbean Red papaya. Although Caribbean Reds provide a different taste sensation, this fruit can also be the catalyst for relaxing thoughts.


Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups almonds
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 eggs
1/3 cup light olive oil
2 tbsp honey
1 1/2 cups Caribbean Red papaya, cut up and mashed into purée
2 tsp vanilla


Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350˚. Line a 9" x 13" baking pan with greased parchment paper.
- Using a food processor, pulse the almonds into a fine meal. Pour into a large mixing bowl.
- To the almond meal add the rice flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices and sea salt.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat the eggs. Add the remaining wet ingredients. Beat well.
- Add the wet ingredients to the larger bowl’s dry ingredients. Whisk until combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake for 33 to 35 minutes, until done.
- Cool the cake before frosting.

Lime-Nutmeg Icing

The sweetness of Caribbean Reds in the cake creates a sharp contrast with the lime icing. It’s a sweet-tart treat.

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups confectioners’ (powdered) sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 tbsp lime juice
2 tsp vanilla
3 dashes nutmeg

Directions:
- Combine ingredients in a medium bowl. Beat until smooth and glossy.
- Frost the cooled cake.
- Chill for 30 minutes in the freezer before slicing.

Serves: 15

Prep time: 30 minutes (excluding baking and cooling time)

Summer Caribbean Red Spring Rolls

I’m new to the rice wrapper; I was somewhat intimidated, but no more. It’s a great way to ‘wrap’ things, particularly delicious things up.

Ingredients

1 cup Caribbean Red papaya (approximately 50% color with the fruit giving to a gentle squeeze.)

1 cup cucumber

½ cup baby carrots

1 tsp basil or mint

1 tsp fish sauce

1 tsp ginger

1 tbs rice vinegar

½ tsp bird's eye chili or other dried pepper

6 long strands of chive (optional)

6 rice wrappers

Directions

·      Thinly chop papaya, cucumber and carrots. You’ll want to chop pieces so none is larger than ½” on any dimension.

·      Finely chop fresh basil or fresh mint and combine with the produce in a large bowl.

·      In a medium bowl, combine fish sauce, grated ginger, rice vinegar and finely diced dried bird chili pepper.  

·      Moisten rice wrappers until pliable. Add filling, drizzle with sauce and roll up. Tie with strands of chive. 

·      Refrigerate at least 2 hours or until ready to serve.

           

Serves 4

Prep time: 30 minutes


For information about chilies and peppers used in Sweet Heat recipes

Curried Chicken & Caribbean Red Papaya Salad

After years of lifelessly boring deli chicken salad, it’s time to take this salad on a different direction. The change agent being sriracha, a Thai hot sauce typically seasoned with garlic, vinegar, sugar and spices. No one will ever again say chicken salad is boring.


Ingredients

2 tbs mayonnaise

2 tbs plain greek yogurt

1 tsp lime juice

½ tsp curry powder

salt and pepper to taste

½ tsp Sriracha

1 cup shredded or cubed cooked chicken

1 cup Caribbean Red papaya (approximately 50% color with the fruit giving to a gentle squeeze.)

2 cups your choice lettuce

Directions

·      Mix together mayonaise, plain greek yogurt, lime juice, curry powder, salt, pepper and Sriracha.

·      Combine this dressing with leftover shredded or cubed cooked chicken and semi-ripe papaya chunks. Serve on a bed of greens.

Serves 4

Prep time: 15 minutes

For information about chilies and peppers used in Sweet Heat recipes

Chilled Caribbean Red Papaya-Watermelon Soup

Combining my two favorite summer fruits is a no-brainer; it’s the addition of habanero pepper that defines the genius behind ‘sweet-heat’. Whatever the stove’s heat could’ve added to the taste is instead sublimely provided by the habanero pepper’s flavor acting as a catalyst in the midst of summer’s fruit.

 

Ingredients

1 cup Caribbean Red papaya, diced

1 cup watermelon, diced

½ cup coconut water

2 tbs lime juice

dash of salt

½ tsp cilantro

½ tsp finely diced habanero pepper (optional – for sweet-heat!)

Directions

·      In a blender or food processor, combine papaya, watermelon, coconut water, lime juice, salt and cilantro.

·      For a sweet-heat addition, process in finely diced fresh habanero pepper.

·      Chill until ready to serve. Garnish with cilantro.

Serves: 2

Prep time: 15 minutes


For information about chilies and peppers used in Sweet Heat recipes

Frozen Caribbean Red Papaya Coconut-Rum Cocktail

Adding Caribbean Red papaya to your choice of coconut milk* or rum makes the summer’s heat is not that bad. But adding a hot chili pepper to take the edge off the sweltering temperature is mind-boggling. After the first sip, it all makes sense. Now that’s sweet heat!

Ingredients

½ cup Caribbean Red papaya, chopped

1 tbs pineapple juice

1 oz. coconut milk or spiced rum

½ cup ice

½ tsp finely mined dried hot chili pepper

dash nutmeg

Directions

·      In a blender, process ripe papaya, thinned with a little pineapple juice, spiked with coconut or spiced rum and ice.

·      To make it a sweet-heat cocktail, add just a small amount of finely minced, dried hot chili pepper, like a bird chili or something similar.

·      Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.

Serves: 1

Prep time: 10 minutes

*This also makes a terrific tropical Shirley Temple.


For information about chili peppers used in Sweet Heat with Caribbean Red papayas

Sweet Heat with Caribbean Red Papayas

Recipes for 

Papaya Coconut-Rum Cocktail

Curried Chicken and Papaya Salad

Summer Spring Rolls

Chilled Papaya-Watermelon Soup

Information about the chilies and peppers used in recipes

Papaya Salsa Oriental

East meets South of the Border with this salsa. Kumquats are considered good luck by the Chinese. So add a little luck to an appetizer.

Ingredients
1 cup Caribbean Red papaya diced into tiny cubes
2 tablespoons chopped ginger
1/4 cup shallots chopped fine
1/2 cup kumquats chopped into tiny cubes with skins on*
1/4 cup fresh mint chopped
2 tablespoons lime juice

Directions
Combine all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate until chilled about 30 minutes.
Makes 3 cups
*you can substitute mandarin oranges

Nutritional tips on tropical fruits and vegetables

Papaya broccoli slaw

Who says 'slaw' has to be bland. Ditch the regular coleslaw and potato salad and make a jazzy veggie side dish that's quicker to make than it takes to stand at the deli getting the coleslaw weighed.

Ingredients:
2 cups Caribbean Red papaya sliced in Julienne strips
1 package broccoli slaw (found next to the bagged salads)
1 teaspoon hot sauce (try the brand from New Orleans for some jazz)
2 tablespoons white vinegar

Directions:
Combine all ingredients. Refrigerate. Just before serving, toss to evenly coat.

Serves six.

Nutritional tips on tropical fruits and vegetables

Papaya-walnut crisp

We don't think of baking with papaya, but why not. This recipe is adapted from a recipe using canned apricots, Just what you need in the dead of winter to brighten your day, fruit that's been sitting in its own juice and preservatives. Nothing but fresh, if you're going to take the time and loving effort to bake. Caribbean Red papayas' lucious reddish pink color and tropical taste will make your day.

Ingredients
Cooking spray
1/2 cup quick-cooking oatmeal
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup granola
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons fat-free milk
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 Caribbean Red papaya chopped into 1/2" chunks
1 teaspoon almond extract

Directions
Spray 9x11 baking dish with nonstick spray
Combine oats, brown sugar, flour, granola and walnuts in a medium bowl. With a fork, cut in butter and gradually add the milk. Continue cutting with fork until mixture looks line coarse crumbs.
Mix sugar and giner in a medium bow. Add Caribbean Red papaya chunks and almond extract. Toss to coat.
Transfer papaya mixture to baking dish. Sprinkle with oat topping. Lightly spray top with nonstick spray.
Cook at 275 degrees for 45 minutes or until topping is crisp and begins to brown.
Top with your favorite ice cream or whipped topping. Top that with some tiny slices of uncooked papaya and taste the difference. There's not much.

Serves 6
Can be cooked in a slow cooker for 4 hours on low.
Serve warm

Nutritional tips on tropical fruits and vegetables

Berry, Berry Papaya Salad

It's a stiking contrast, the deep blue of berries and the luring pinkish red of Caribbean Red papaya. Easy to make with a honey lime dressing that almost makes this a dessert.

Ingredients
3 tablespoons lime juice
2 teaspoons honey
2 tablespoons ginger finely chopped
1 Caribbean Red papaya diced into 1/2" cubes
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup blackberries
1 tablespoon mint leaves chopped

Directions
Combine the lime juice, honey and ginger in a small bow. Just before serving, combine all ingredients by tossing lightly.
Serves six

Nutritional tips on tropical fruits and vegetables

Papaya Winter Relish

If it's hearty food needed for winter's icy storms, why not add a bit of the Caribbean with a little papaya to a relish. It's easy to make, great to top fish, chicken or a string bean side dish.

Ingredients
1/4 cup white onion minced
1 cup ripe Caribbean Red papaya diced into tiny cubes
1/4 cup red bell pepper diced into tiny cubes
1/4 cup yellow squash diced into tiny cubes
1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped finely
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lime juice

Directions
Combine ingredients, cover and refrigerate 2 hours before serving.
Makes 3 cups

Nutritional tips on tropical fruits and vegetables

Papaya, the meat tenderizer?

My last post about papaya being a meat tenderizer, got a lot of comments.

Papaya has an enzyme found in both its fruit and leaves called papain. You won't find it in the spice or herb section of the grocery store.

The enzyme is a protease, that is, it breaks down protein. It's why papayas are great for people watching their weight.

It is often used as a meat tenderizer. You can marinate tough meat with chunks of papaya, or wrap meat in papaya leaves. But using too much, or leaving it on the meat too long, can make meat soft and mushy. The heat from cooking the meat will stop the enzyme action, so don't cook soon after the marination has started.

For a great papaya marinated meat dish.