Sunday, June 1, 2008

Papaya or Breast-milk soup

This soup is said to increase breast milk production and the amount of colostrums which has very high levels of antibodies to protect baby against infection. Use green unripe papaya. You can use chicken, pork or fish to cook the stock.




















1 raw green papaya cut into big chunks









½ chicken cut into large pieces





200 gm smashed ginger
20 smashed black pepper corns
15 boxthorn fruit
10 – 15 red dates
800 ml stock
Salt to taste

Blanch chicken in boiling water.
Remove chicken and discard the water
Place the chicken into clean boiling water
Add the papaya, ginger and peppercorn.
Simmer for about 2 hours.





Threadfin fish cut into big slices can be used instead






Simmer the papaya, ginger and peppercorn for about an hour and then add the fish
Continue boiling until the soup is milky.

Papaya is one of the few fruits that have vitamins A, B, C and E as well as flavonoids and minerals, especially potassium and magnesium. It contains dietary fibre, which is associated with lowering cholesterol and the laxative effects helps to relieve constipation especially for the elderly and very young children. The vitamin C in papaya aids in lowering the absorption of carcinogenic substances like nitrate and nitrites.

Papaya leaves contain protein digesting enzymes such as papain and chymopapain. Papain breaks down connective tissues that come in direct contact with it therefore wrapping meat in papaya leaves will tenderize the meat. Do not treat too long otherwise the meat will become dry and tasteless.




In Indonesia, the leaves are boiled, sliced finely and fried with pounded chilli, garlic and shallots, which when eaten will reduce ‘heatiness’ in the body.





Papaya juice is becoming popular as the natural cure for dengue fever because of its ability to reduce fever and ‘heatiness’ in the body. The recipe is:

Wash 2 pieces of raw papaya leaves, pound and squeeze for the juice. You should get 2tablespoons of juice. Drink the juice once a day until the fever subsides. It is very bitter but it works. Use only the leafy part and not the stem.

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