In recent years, male papaya flowers have been sought after by many people for medicinal purposes. They are soaked in honey to create a drink that helps with coughs, indigestion, bloating, and stomach problems. However, few people know that male papaya flowers can also be used to create delicious and unique dishes.
Preparing male papaya flowers for cooking:
When soaking the flowers for medicinal purposes, no one removes the bitter taste of male papaya flowers because it is the component that gives them their medicinal properties. However, when cooking them, it is recommended to remove the bitterness to make the dishes more enjoyable. To do this, you should remove the stem of the flower and keep only the petals, preserving the fresh flowers and discarding wilted ones. Then, blanch the flowers in salted water and rinse with cold water to reduce the bitterness. Some people actually enjoy the slightly bitter taste of male papaya flowers, so they may skip this step.
Delicious dishes made from male papaya flowers:
Stir-fried vegetarian male papaya flowers: Stir-fried male papaya flowers are a delicious and potentially cough-relieving dish. To add sweetness, you can stir-fry them with eggplant and shiitake mushrooms. Simply sauté minced garlic and shallots in cooking oil, then add the male papaya flowers, mushrooms, and eggplant. Stir-fry quickly over high heat and season to taste. Add scallions at the end.
Stir-fried male papaya flowers with beef/pork: Thinly slice beef or pork and marinate with spices, a little cornstarch, and cooking oil to tenderize the meat. You can also add a little beer to the marinade. Then, sauté minced garlic and quickly stir-fry the beef until it is medium-rare and not tough. Add the male papaya flowers and mix the two together, seasoning to taste.