How Papaya Became My Tropical BFF

Papaya. To children, it was once the ‘anti-hero.’ The orange rogue among other fruits on the shelf, with its sting only leading to one frustrating mushiness. But taste buds like people change over period of time. Well now, being a visible and yummy fruit, papaya is a true allegory.

Lowly priced and packing more vitamin C than an orange, papaya stood as a knight in shining armor in maintaining my immunity and healthy skin. And then fiber makes me less hungry for so much longer and papain, its enzyme, is in the digestion hall of fame.

I had never imagined that this small fruit full of sunshine had so much potential. It was a sincerest form of affection that I started with but it only started with a bite.

The texture was somewhat unexpected but, just on the tail end, there was a slight sense of melon sweetness. In the past, no one had ever thought that coffee could be a staple in the refrigerator but now it has become standard.

I found this recipe very simple yet so delicious and here is the method to prepare the Spicy Papaya Salad that I refer to as Super Easy!

Julienned 1/2 red bell pepper

1 quarter of red onion chopped finely

a few sprigs of fresh cilantro, chopped

Lime juice (to taste)

Chili flakes (for more spiciness)

Salt and pepper

Mix all the ingredients together, season to taste, and there you are! This is best served as a side dish or can also be eaten as part of a snack option.

Papaya is my story of emerging in the sea of the new, the unexplored, and the mysterious. It is a message they want people to embrace, that one does not have to compromise on quality and taste to maintain a healthy diet.

Well, the next time you meet a papaya, I invite you to give it a try. You could very well stumble on a new tropical pal.

Thank you for reading!