Pawpaw Recipes

Pawpaws are a delicious and versatile fruit that can be used in a variety of sweet and savory dishes. Here are ten pawpaw recipes to try at home:

1. Pawpaw Smoothie: Combine 1 cup of ripe pawpaw chunks, 1 banana, 1 cup of almond milk, and a handful of ice in a blender. Blend until smooth and serve.

2. Pawpaw Muffins: In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of flour, 1 tsp of baking powder, 1/2 tsp of salt, and 1/2 cup of sugar. In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 egg, 1/2 cup of milk, and 1/4 cup of melted butter. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just combined. Fold in 1 cup of diced pawpaw. Spoon the batter into a muffin tin lined with muffin cups and bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

3. Pawpaw Sorbet: In a blender, combine 2 cups of ripe pawpaw chunks, 1/2 cup of sugar, and the juice of 1 lemon. Blend until smooth, then transfer the mixture to an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions. Alternatively, you can pour the mixture into a loaf pan and freeze it, then scrape it with a fork every 30 minutes until it reaches the desired consistency.

4. Pawpaw Salad: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup of olive oil, 2 tbsp of white wine vinegar, 1 tsp of Dijon mustard, and salt and pepper to taste. In a large salad bowl, combine a few handfuls of mixed greens, 1 cup of diced pawpaw, 1/2 cup of crumbled feta cheese, and 1/2 cup of toasted pecans. Drizzle the dressing over the top and toss to coat.

5. Pawpaw Salsa: In a food processor, pulse 1 cup of diced pawpaw, 1/2 cup of diced red onion, 1 jalapeno pepper (seeded and minced), 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro, the juice of 1 lime, and salt to taste until well combined. Serve the salsa with tortilla chips or as a topping for grilled chicken or fish.

6. Pawpaw Ice Cream: In a blender, combine 2 cups of ripe pawpaw chunks, 1 cup of heavy cream, 1 cup of milk, 3/4 cup of sugar, and 1 tsp of vanilla extract. Blend until smooth, then transfer the mixture to an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions. Alternatively, you can pour the mixture into a loaf pan and freeze it, then scrape it with a fork every 30 minutes until it reaches the desired consistency.

7. Pawpaw Cheesecake: Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a food processor, pulse 1 1/2 cups of graham cracker crumbs, 6 tbsp of melted butter, and 1/4 cup of sugar until well combined. Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. In a large mixing bowl, beat 16 oz of softened cream cheese until smooth. Add 1 cup of sugar and beat until well combined. Add 3 eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in 1 cup of mashed pawpaw and 1 tsp of vanilla extract. Pour the mixture over the crust in the pan and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the cheesecake is set. Allow the cheesecake to cool completely, then refrigerate it until chilled.