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Dulce de fruta bomba (Cuban green papaya in syrup)
Strips of green papaya simmered in cinnamon syrup, served with salty white cheese
In Cuba, papaya is called fruta bomba, and its green, unripe fruit is cooked into this old-fashioned dulce, a fixture of home cooking all over the island and often made in big batches to keep. Strips of firm green papaya are simmered slowly in a cinnamon and lime-peel syrup until they turn translucent and chewy, with a candied, honeyed flavour. The Cuban way to eat it is with a slice of salty, crumbly white cheese, which balances the sweetness; a cup of strong coffee goes alongside. The dulce is egg-free by tradition, with nothing to bind: the papaya candies in the sugar syrup, and a short soak in water with a little bicarbonate of soda helps the strips stay firm. Chef's tip: rinse the strips well after the soak and simmer them gently; the common mistake is boiling the syrup fast, which hardens the outside of the papaya before the syrup can soak in.
- Total time
- 110 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
For the papaya
- 2 ¼ lb green papayapeeled, seeded, cut into 1 cm strips
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 ⅓ lb sugar
- 3 ¼ cups water
- 2 strips lime peel
To serve
- 7 oz salty white cheese (queso blanco)vegetarian, sliced
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Put 2 ¼ lb green papaya in a large bowl, cover with water, stir in 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda and soak for 30 minutes.
30 minStep 2: Drain and rinse the strips very well under cold running water, until they no longer feel slippery.
Step 3: Bring 1 ⅓ lb sugar, 3 ¼ cups water, 2 cinnamon sticks and 2 strips lime peel to the boil in a large heavy pan over a medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
6 minStep 4: Add the papaya, bring back to a simmer, then lower the heat so the syrup just bubbles gently.
4 minStep 5: Simmer uncovered for 50–60 minutes, without stirring, until the strips are translucent and the syrup is thick and reaches about 225°F, the thread stage.
55 minStep 6: Leave to cool in the syrup, then chill. Serve in small dishes with slices of 7 oz salty white cheese (queso blanco) on the side.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 380 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 80 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does dulce de fruta bomba (Cuban green papaya in syrup) take?
- About 110 minutes in total: 40 minutes to prepare and 70 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of bicarbonate of soda?
- Baking powder, three times the amount (the bake may taste slightly different).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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