Bananas adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
papayas
+ Add to WorkbenchAbout this ingredient
A tropical fruit (Carica papaya) with sweet, musk-forward flesh and a unique enzyme — papain — that breaks down proteins. Ripe papaya has a polarizing musky sw…
52 pairings
Editorial
Flavor profile
Papain (from the papaya's latex, concentrated in the skin and seeds) is one of the most powerful plant proteases — it is the active ingredient in commercial meat tenderizers and contributes to papaya's ability to tenderize meat in marinades. Marinating tougher cuts in papaya puree breaks down the collagen and myofibrillar proteins; extended contact can make meat mushy, so marinating times are typically under 2 hours. Ripe papaya (yellow to orange exterior, soft flesh) has a distinctly musky, sweet flavor that is loved intensely by some and found unpleasant by others — the aroma is from benzyl isothiocyanate and other sulfur-containing compounds. Lime juice and a pinch of chili (the classic preparation throughout Latin America) cuts the musk and brightens the flavor dramatically. Green papaya (unripe, firm, almost white-fleshed) is culinarily opposite — used as a vegetable, most famously in Thai som tam (green papaya salad with fish sauce, lime, and chili), where the crisp, absorptive flesh soaks up the dressing.
Pairings
Flavor relationships
Pairs well with
bananas
beverages
caramel
cashews
carrots
chile peppers, jalapeño
chile peppers, serrano
chocolate, white
cilantro
cinnamon
citrus fruits
coconut, meat
coconut, milk
cream and ice cream
curries
fish sauce
garlic
ginger
grapefruit
honey
kiwi fruit
kumquats
lemon, juice
lime, juice
macadamia nuts
mango
marinades
melon
mint
nectarines
orange
passion fruit
peaches
peanuts
pepper, black
pineapple
port
prosciutto
raspberries
salads, fruit
salsa
salt
shrimp
sorbet
soups
sour cream
strawberries
sugar
vanilla
vinegar, rice
vinegar, white wine
yogurt
bananas
Bananas adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
beverages
Beverages complements papayas by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
caramel
Caramel adds seasoning or sweetness that balances papayas's sharper, richer, or earthier qualities.
cashews
Cashews adds nutty richness and texture that gives papayas more contrast and substance.
carrots
Carrots adds complementary vegetable character, giving papayas more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
chile peppers, jalapeño
Jalapeño adds fresh heat that contrasts papaya's soft tropical sweetness, especially in salsas and salads.
chile peppers, serrano
Chile Peppers, Serrano brings heat, sharpness, or tang that wakes up papayas's milder flavors and adds contrast.
chocolate, white
Chocolate, White adds roasted bitterness and depth that balances papayas's sweetness, richness, or aromatic intensity.
cilantro
Cilantro adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping papayas from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
cinnamon
Cinnamon adds spice, warmth, or aromatic complexity that plays against papayas's natural base notes.
citrus fruits
Citrus Fruits brings acidity and brightness that sharpens papayas's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.
coconut, meat
Coconut, Meat complements papayas by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
coconut, milk
Coconut, Milk adds richness and helps carry papayas's flavor, giving the pairing a smoother texture and a more rounded finish.
cream and ice cream
Cream And Ice Cream adds richness and helps carry papayas's flavor, giving the pairing a smoother texture and a more rounded finish.
curries
Curries complements papayas by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
fish sauce
Fish Sauce brings briny savory depth that contrasts with papayas's sweeter, fresher, or creamy qualities.
garlic
Garlic supplies an allium backbone that deepens papayas's savory side and gives the pairing a more complete cooked flavor.
ginger
Ginger complements papayas by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
grapefruit
Grapefruit brings acidity and brightness that sharpens papayas's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.
honey
Honey adds seasoning or sweetness that balances papayas's sharper, richer, or earthier qualities.
kiwi fruit
Kiwi Fruit adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
kumquats
Kumquats complements papayas by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
lemon, juice
Lemon, Juice brings acidity and brightness that sharpens papayas's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.
lime, juice
Lime juice sharpens papaya's musky tropical sweetness and keeps the fruit tasting bright instead of flat.
macadamia nuts
Macadamia Nuts adds nutty richness and texture that gives papayas more contrast and substance.
mango
Mango adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
marinades
Marinades adds structure and seasoning that helps papayas integrate into a fuller dish instead of drifting around like an ingredient with no adult supervision.
melon
Melon adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
mint
Mint adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping papayas from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
nectarines
Nectarines adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
orange
Orange brings acidity and brightness that sharpens papayas's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.
passion fruit
Passion Fruit adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
peaches
Peaches adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
peanuts
Peanuts adds nutty richness and texture that gives papayas more contrast and substance.
pepper, black
Pepper, Black brings heat, sharpness, or tang that wakes up papayas's milder flavors and adds contrast.
pineapple
Pineapple adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
port
Port adds acidity, sweetness, or aromatic depth that helps papayas work in drinks, sauces, desserts, or cooked preparations.
prosciutto
Prosciutto adds savory richness and browned depth that gives papayas more weight and turns it into a heartier dish.
raspberries
Raspberries adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
salads, fruit
Salads, Fruit adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
salsa
Salsa adds structure and seasoning that helps papayas integrate into a fuller dish instead of drifting around like an ingredient with no adult supervision.
salt
Salt adds seasoning or sweetness that balances papayas's sharper, richer, or earthier qualities.
shrimp
Shrimp brings briny savory depth that contrasts with papayas's sweeter, fresher, or creamy qualities.
sorbet
Sorbet complements papayas by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
soups
Soups adds structure and seasoning that helps papayas integrate into a fuller dish instead of drifting around like an ingredient with no adult supervision.
sour cream
Sour Cream adds richness and helps carry papayas's flavor, giving the pairing a smoother texture and a more rounded finish.
strawberries
Strawberries adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
sugar
Sugar adds seasoning or sweetness that balances papayas's sharper, richer, or earthier qualities.
vanilla
Vanilla adds seasoning or sweetness that balances papayas's sharper, richer, or earthier qualities.
vinegar, rice
Vinegar, Rice adds acidity, sweetness, or aromatic depth that helps papayas work in drinks, sauces, desserts, or cooked preparations.
vinegar, white wine
Vinegar, White Wine adds acidity, sweetness, or aromatic depth that helps papayas work in drinks, sauces, desserts, or cooked preparations.
yogurt
Yogurt adds richness and helps carry papayas's flavor, giving the pairing a smoother texture and a more rounded finish.
beverages
Beverages complements papayas by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
Caramel adds seasoning or sweetness that balances papayas's sharper, richer, or earthier qualities.
Cashews adds nutty richness and texture that gives papayas more contrast and substance.
Carrots adds complementary vegetable character, giving papayas more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
Jalapeño adds fresh heat that contrasts papaya's soft tropical sweetness, especially in salsas and salads.
Chile Peppers, Serrano brings heat, sharpness, or tang that wakes up papayas's milder flavors and adds contrast.
Chocolate, White adds roasted bitterness and depth that balances papayas's sweetness, richness, or aromatic intensity.
Cilantro adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping papayas from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
Cinnamon adds spice, warmth, or aromatic complexity that plays against papayas's natural base notes.
citrus fruits
Citrus Fruits brings acidity and brightness that sharpens papayas's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.
coconut, meat
Coconut, Meat complements papayas by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
coconut, milk
Coconut, Milk adds richness and helps carry papayas's flavor, giving the pairing a smoother texture and a more rounded finish.
cream and ice cream
Cream And Ice Cream adds richness and helps carry papayas's flavor, giving the pairing a smoother texture and a more rounded finish.
curries
Curries complements papayas by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
Fish Sauce brings briny savory depth that contrasts with papayas's sweeter, fresher, or creamy qualities.
Garlic supplies an allium backbone that deepens papayas's savory side and gives the pairing a more complete cooked flavor.
Ginger complements papayas by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
Grapefruit brings acidity and brightness that sharpens papayas's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.
Honey adds seasoning or sweetness that balances papayas's sharper, richer, or earthier qualities.
Kiwi Fruit adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
Kumquats complements papayas by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
lemon, juice
Lemon, Juice brings acidity and brightness that sharpens papayas's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.
lime, juice
Lime juice sharpens papaya's musky tropical sweetness and keeps the fruit tasting bright instead of flat.
Macadamia Nuts adds nutty richness and texture that gives papayas more contrast and substance.
mango
Mango adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
marinades
Marinades adds structure and seasoning that helps papayas integrate into a fuller dish instead of drifting around like an ingredient with no adult supervision.
melon
Melon adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
Mint adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping papayas from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
Nectarines adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
orange
Orange brings acidity and brightness that sharpens papayas's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.
Passion Fruit adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
Peaches adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
peanuts
Peanuts adds nutty richness and texture that gives papayas more contrast and substance.
Pepper, Black brings heat, sharpness, or tang that wakes up papayas's milder flavors and adds contrast.
pineapple
Pineapple adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
port
Port adds acidity, sweetness, or aromatic depth that helps papayas work in drinks, sauces, desserts, or cooked preparations.
Prosciutto adds savory richness and browned depth that gives papayas more weight and turns it into a heartier dish.
Raspberries adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
salads, fruit
Salads, Fruit adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
salsa
Salsa adds structure and seasoning that helps papayas integrate into a fuller dish instead of drifting around like an ingredient with no adult supervision.
salt
Salt adds seasoning or sweetness that balances papayas's sharper, richer, or earthier qualities.
Shrimp brings briny savory depth that contrasts with papayas's sweeter, fresher, or creamy qualities.
sorbet
Sorbet complements papayas by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
soups
Soups adds structure and seasoning that helps papayas integrate into a fuller dish instead of drifting around like an ingredient with no adult supervision.
Sour Cream adds richness and helps carry papayas's flavor, giving the pairing a smoother texture and a more rounded finish.
Strawberries adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out papayas's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
sugar
Sugar adds seasoning or sweetness that balances papayas's sharper, richer, or earthier qualities.
Vanilla adds seasoning or sweetness that balances papayas's sharper, richer, or earthier qualities.
vinegar, rice
Vinegar, Rice adds acidity, sweetness, or aromatic depth that helps papayas work in drinks, sauces, desserts, or cooked preparations.
Vinegar, White Wine adds acidity, sweetness, or aromatic depth that helps papayas work in drinks, sauces, desserts, or cooked preparations.
Yogurt adds richness and helps carry papayas's flavor, giving the pairing a smoother texture and a more rounded finish.