This is a sweet smelling mountain pawpaw. Apparently you can eat the seeds like for passion fruit, but I planted mine (unfortunately it has been really dry and I think that they didn't survive!). For the flesh I just added a few drops of lemon juice and a tiny bit of sugar, and then I let the fruit marinate for a few hours. Very nice for dessert, snack or breakfast (with your cereals).
Photos and Recipes by Alessandra Zecchini ©
Do they sell those in the market down there? PawPaws are a custardy wild fruit here. Not sold in stores.
ReplyDeleteNo they don't sell them in stores, you have to grow them in a garden, the only papaya that can grow in NZ
ReplyDeleteTwo years ago I was given two 'branches' of babaco from a neighbour here in Tauranga I am told this is the Mountain Pawpaw. Within two weeks I had new growth and now have two plants, with getting on for 30 fruit between them. They lost most of their leaves in winter but there is now new growth on both. I can't say they are my favourite fruit so am on the lookout for new recipes. I de-seed them and slice and poach gently in water with honey and vanilla paste and find them palatable with other fruit for breakfast. If I let them get really yellow as the one shown in the photo I find they are too mushy so pick them as soon as they show the faintest sign of yellow. Has anyone tried freezing them?> None of my neighbours like them and I can't cope with that many. c
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