If you are looking for a pleasant, healthy, and delicious recipe featuring green papaya, green papaya soup is the perfect choice. Moreover, it’s highly nutritious, thanks to the protein from spareribs and the vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber found in green papaya. Let’s make it.
Table of Contents
What Is Green Papaya?
Papaya is a tropical fruit that goes through various stages of ripening. An unripe or immature papaya fruit is called “green papaya”. It is green, and the flesh is firm, pale, and not yet sweet. As the fruit ripens, it turns yellow or orange, and the flesh becomes softer and sweeter.
Green papaya can be used in salads, savory stews, soups, curries, and pickles in some cuisines. For example, in Vietnamese cuisine, dishes like green papaya salad, pickles in bun cha, pork hock and green papaya soup are some typical dishes made from green papaya. Its crunchy texture and unique flavor set it apart from other vegetables.
What Is Green Papaya Soup?
Green papaya soup is a traditional dish in many Southeast Asian cuisines, especially in countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. It features a flavorful soup made using green, unripe papaya and ribs as the main ingredients. The natural sweetness of this soup impresses me a lot.
Green papaya soup typically includes green papaya, pork, usually spareribs, and a garnish of spring onions. Moreover, green papaya contains enzymes like papain, which act as meat tenderizers, making the ribs cooked with green papaya even more tender. The cooking process is simple, making it an excellent choice for daily meals.
Nutrition Value of Green Papaya
More than just a delicious soup, green papaya soup is highly nutritious. Besides the protein from spareribs, the nutrition in green papaya contributes to the high nutritional value of green papaya soup. Here are some health benefits of green papaya:
- Vitamins: Green papaya is a good source of vitamin C, which is essential for a strong immune system, skin health, and wound healing.
- Dietary Fiber: it is rich in dietary fiber, which is crucial for digestive health. Fiber promotes regular bowel movements, helps maintain a feeling of fullness, and can assist in managing weight.
- Enzymes: One of the unique features of green papaya is its enzymes, particularly papain. These enzymes can aid in digestion and are sometimes used as meat tenderizers in cooking.
- Antioxidants: Green papaya contains a variety of antioxidants, including flavonoids and carotenoids. These antioxidants help protect your body’s cells from damage caused by free radicals, which may reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
- Minerals: Green papaya provides essential minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium. These minerals play crucial roles in maintaining healthy blood pressure, bone health, and muscle function.
- Low Calories: If you’re conscious of your calorie intake, green papaya is a great choice. It is relatively low in calories, making it suitable for those looking to manage their calorie consumption.
Ingredients
- 300g (11 oz) spareribs
- 300g (11 oz) green papaya
- Salt
- 1 liter of water
- Chopped spring onions
You can use green to nearly ripe papaya for making this soup, as long as the papaya is still firm. The riper the papaya, the sweeter it is.
How to Make Green Papaya Soup
- Clean the ribs, then bring around 200-300ml of water to a boil on the stove to blanch them. Once the water in the pot is boiling, add the ribs and blanch them for 2-3 minutes, then strain out all the blanching water. This step is optional; you can skip it if you’re short on time.
- Return the spareribs to the pot and add enough water to cover them all. Simmer over medium heat for 30 minutes to soften the ribs. Don’t forget to add a bit of salt to enhance the flavor.
- While waiting for the ribs to soften, prepare the green papaya. You can refer to my guide on how to cut a papaya here to cut it into bite-sized pieces for the soup.
- Once the ribs are softened, add the green papaya pieces to the pot and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes or until they are fully cooked. Adjust the taste with salt, seasoning powder, or any preferred seasonings.
- Finally, transfer the soup to a bowl and garnish it with chopped spring onions. Enjoy it while it’s warm!
Storing Green Papaya Soup
Like other soups , I don’t recommend storing green papaya soup overnight because it’s very perishable. Therefore, try to consume your soup within a day. To save cooking time, you can prepare the ingredients in advance. Green papaya pieces, after being cut, can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Keep in mind that freezing green papaya may slightly change its texture. As for the spareribs, you can either refrigerate them (for 2-3 days) or freeze them (for up to 1 month).
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Green Papaya Soup Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 300g (11 oz) spareribs
- 300g (11 oz) green papaya
- Salt
- 600 ml water 2.5 cups
- Chopped spring onions
Instructions
- Clean the ribs, then bring around 200-300ml of water to a boil on the stove to blanch them. Once the water in the pot is boiling, add the ribs and blanch them for 2-3 minutes, then strain out all the blanching water. This step is optional; you can skip it if you're short on time.
- Return the spareribs to the pot and add enough water to cover them all. Simmer over medium heat for 30 minutes to soften the ribs. Don't forget to add a bit of salt to enhance the flavor.
- While waiting for the ribs to soften, prepare the green papaya. You can refer to my guide on how to cut a papaya here to cut it into bite-sized pieces for the soup.
- Once the ribs are softened, add the green papaya pieces to the pot and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes or until they are fully cooked. Adjust the taste with salt, seasoning powder, or any preferred seasonings.
- Finally, transfer the soup to a bowl and garnish it with chopped spring onions. Enjoy it while it's warm!
