Description
Green papaya has a very mild, almost bland, taste, but it is the medium through which robust flavor ingredients take body and form. It picks up the hot, sour, sweet and salty flavors, giving them a unique crisp and chewy texture unlike that of any other vegetable. When made into salad, you wouldn't know that it was mild and timid; you remember it only as bold and spicy.

Grated Raw papaya To grate the papaya, rub it against a grater. These shreds will range in size according to size of the holes in the grater. It can be grated thinly or thickly using a grater as required by the recipe.

How to Select
Unripe papayas are readily available in various sizes and shapes during the summer at markets. Select one that is very firm with shiny green peel suggesting that it is as freshly picked as possible. Any very firm unripe green papaya can be used for the recipe. Select the firmest one you can find. Even green fruits will eventually ripen and turn soft if allowed to sit around for some time.

Culinary Uses
" Green papaya salad is very popular. There are many ways to make green papaya salads, with varying degrees of hotness, sourness and sweetness.
" The salads are made by bruising julienned green papaya with garlic and very hot peppers in a large clay mortar with a wooden pestle, then seasoning with lime juice and other flavorings.
" The raw salad is an tasty accompaniment to Fafda Ghatia - loved by Gujju's

How to Store
Green papayas should be stored in the refrigerator and can be consumed within a week.
For more shelf life, keep it in covered in a plastic bag, and use as desired.

Health Benefits
" Green Papaya is one of nature's most abundant sources of plant enzymes and other important phytonutrients.
" Green Papaya possesses antiseptic qualities and helps prevent the abnormal proliferation of undesirable bacteria in the intestines.