How To Use Pawpaw

Extracts from talk broadcast from

ZJV (Suva) by the Nutrition Section

of the South 'Pacific Health Service.

Growing Pawpaws

The average time is 12 months from sowing the seed until the tree begins to bear. Seeds of a good-flavoured fruit should be sown where you wish the tree to grow, since the pawpaw is not always easy to transplant. Prepare holes about two feet in diameter and six feet apart, by thoroughly digging the soil as deep as possible, and working in a little com post or manure. After getting the soil ready, water thoroughly and leave for a day or two to enable the soil to settle, and then sow half a dozen or more seeds to each hole.

When the seedlings are two to three inches high, weed out all except the strongest one, which should be allowed to grow to maturity. Weed around the plant but do not damage the plant or its roots. The tree is short-lived in shallow soil, so if you have no depth of soil in your garden, it is a good idea to sow a few seeds each year to maintain a supply of fruiting trees.

There are three types of pawpaw trees.

The “male” tree has flowers on long stems, but seldom produces fruit. The “hermaphrodite” tree carries “male” and “female” flowers in small clusters, the centre flower usually being the “female”, while those on each side are “males” which supply the pollen for setting the flower, and so producing the fruit. The “female” produces “female” flowers which, on pollinating, set and produce fruit.

The last two types are those which should be kept for bearing fruit and the “male” variety should not be kept. It is interesting to note that local legend has it that if a “male” tree is beheaded, it will change its sex, behave itself aJLid produce fruit! This was tried on five “male” trees. One developed into a “female”; but the others were not success ful, and died. It is nevertheless an experiment worth trying if you have no fruit-bearing trees.

Using Pawpaw

When buying pawpaw, make sure the ripe ones are firm and not bruised, and that they give slightly when pressed with the fingers.

The ripe fruit is excellent for breakfast or dessert, served with lemon or lime; or, for a change, add a little sherry or sweet wine as well. Chill before serving.

Diced pawpaw added to fruit salad gives it a very distinctive and delightful flavour. The pulp of pawpaw mixed with milk or cream makes a; delicious frozen dessert.

When ripe, pawpaw is a very rich source of vitamin A, and a good source of Vitamin C. As an alternative for orange juice it is excellent, and it may be given to infants at a very early age without any other preparation than mashing. This is because of its low fibre content.

There is an enzyme in the skin and leaves of pawpaw which you may be able

to make use of in the kitchen. To soften the fibres of tough meat, wrap it in a pawpaw leaf. Tie the parcel firmly, and give it several hits with a rolling pin or wooden spoon. Leave for 30 to 45 minutes, but no longer, otherwise the meat may start to disintegrate. Unwrap, wash the meat very well, and cook in the usual way.

Unripe pawpaws make a very good vegetable if boiled and served in the same way as vegetable marrow or pumpkin.

Here are some recipes:—

Pawpaw Delight

Stew about 1 lb of nearly ripe pawpaw in Vz cup brown sugar, a little lemon juice and ginger. There is no need to add water. Line a pie dish with short crust pastry. Put a layer of pawpaw on the pastry, sprinkle well with seedless raisins, or sultanas, and some desiccated or grated coconut. Cover with a thin layer of pastry. Repeat until the dish is full, finishing with a layer of pastry. Brush over with milk or beaten egg, sprinkle with sugar and bake in a hot oven for about % hour. When cooked, dust with icing sugar and serve either hot or cold.

Stuffed Pawpaw

Peel a firm, ripe pawpaw, cut a small square at the side and remove the seeds.

Fill the fruit with mince, to which has

been added a little chopped onion, salt and pepper. Replace the square. Place in a greased baking tin. Pour over a little melted butter and bake in a moderate oven. When cooked, sprinkle with crisp breadcrumbs and serve with a good gravy, or tomato sauce.

Pawpaw Milk Sherbet

IVz cups ripe pawpaw pulp. 3 teaspoons lemon juice.

Vz cup orange juice.

IV2 cups milk. 1 cup sugar.

Press the pawpaw pulp through a coarse sieve and add the fruit juice. Dissolve the sugar in the milk and add the fruit mixture gradually to the milk. Pour into the ice tray of the refrigerator and freeze quickly, stir every half hour.

To convert this recipe into Pawpaw Ice Cream, substitute 1 cup of evaporated milk or cream for the milk. Stir several times during freezing.

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