Pawpaws are the largest edible fruits native to North America, and they ripen in September. Although they are more common in the Eastern United States, they've found their way westward and have been spotted at California farmer's markets.
Ingredient Spotlight: Pawpaws
Pawpaws are in the same family as the custard-apple, cherimoya, sweetsop, ylang-ylang and soursop, and have similar taste and texture to these fruits.
The fruits are oblong and with green skin. Inside, the flesh is creamy and fragrant, with rows of dark seeds shaped like lima beans. The taste is like a cross between mango and banana.
Although pawpaw trees are easy to grow and the fruit is both nutritious and delicious, they have never been produced on a large scale because the fruits are highly perishable and difficult to transport and store.
Related: In Season: Cherimoyas
Comments (6)
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I think the pawpaw is kind of an acquired taste. I tried a couple in different stages of ripeness from the Marin Farmers Market - not bad, not terrific. My opinion only, of course. To me they smelled a whole lot better than they tasted - really delicious, surprisingly tropical aromas.
view berkeleydaisy's profile
One of the best fruits I have ever tasted.
You have wait until they are really ripe though.
They will ripen perfectly in your fridge if they are picked green.
They're commonly called prairie bananas.
They grow all over the midwest but not too many people know about them.
view art's profile
Interesting...'pawpaw' is what we call papaya in Trinidad. Since papaya's not a fruit I talk about a lot, it's only been recently that I've trained myself to say 'papaya' instead of 'pawpaw.' Now I understand the confused looks I would get with non-Carribbean folks when I would say 'pawpaw.' This must be what they were thinking!
view Dani's profile
My dad has a pawpaw grove on his propety here in OH, we just discovered it b/c he just moved! I tried them, an let me tell you, the really ripe ones make me want to puke! Sorry! I like them Juuuust when they are ripe, they are ceamy and delicious and really taste like banana/mango. But when overripe... think almost black banana and thats almost what it tastes like.
view Tara blogs about everything's profile
we had pawpaw ice cream at the slow food event in SF, it was really good with the pairing of chocolate ice cream
view eec007's profile
anyone from ohio may be familiar with the pawpaw festival:
http://www.ohiopawpawfest.com/
i went back when i lived in athens, and had chili with pawpaw in it, and paw paw ice cream. my favourite restaurant, casa nueva, also serves a pawpaw lassi.
view any such name's profile