Life is always full of mysteries. Every day we learn new things. From various posts on Hive, for example. Also, from the legacy of our previous parents' knowledge.
Especially about plants. There are many things that we don't know are edible or not. But by sharing experiences, we begin to exchange information with each other.
Today I've been through a lot of things that are quite painful but I consider it a test from God so that I can level up to be even better. My damaged house is 95 percent complete. My husband and I just need to clean up the remaining renovations and wait for the smell of paint to completely disappear from the room. I have also recovered from the illness that attacked me a few days ago, about 3 days. I am determined to stay strong, and I don't want to bother my husband, I don't want to bother my mother-in-law. I want to make the people around me happy.
So, I'm glad this time I can explore more ingredients that I can cook around me. From the need to meet daily food, we look around. Cooking edible plants. But often we still need a lot of information about it. We are grateful if we are given a lot of insight from our parents, especially about edible plants around us.
So, this time I will share about the recipe that I got from my late mom. Called "Stir-fried Papaya Flowers."
Male Papaya Flower
The unique thing about my cooking this time is using male papaya flowers. Why? It's not just about papaya flowers. This recipe uses male papaya flowers.
Does the gender of the flower really matter? So true. The gender of male flowers in papaya has an effect on the flower stock itself. Of course, we wouldn't have the heart to cook the female papaya flowers because they will turn into sweet and delicious papaya fruit later on.
In special papaya fruiting plantations, farmers will cut down the male papaya trees, even long before the trees flower. Papaya farmers can already differentiate the gender of the papaya from the shape of their leaves.
Meanwhile for home products, we take advantage of the weakness of male papaya trees that cannot produce fruit. So, we cooked male papaya flowers. We can easily find male papaya flowers in local markets at low prices.
Reducing the Bitter Taste of Male Papaya Flowers
The taste of papaya flowers is similar to that of bitter melon. However, it won't be too bitter if we are right in cultivating them.
Just like processing bitter melon, we also have to process papaya flowers before cooking with seasoning and other ingredients. Was salt, also with guava leaves.
First of all, we have to get rid of the hard stems on papaya flowers. The hard stem of the flower will give a strong bitter taste. So try to get rid of them.
Then, add a few tablespoons of papaya flowers. Squeeze them until the salt is absorbed into the papaya flower.
Wait about 15 minutes, then wash thoroughly again before cooking at a later stage.
Apart from salt, I also use guava leaves. I used five guava leaves. I follow the odd number of leaves from a recipe passed down from my late mom. It's like an important ritual to make this recipe work.
I went to the garden behind the house to pick up guava leaves. Oh, the beautiful guava leaves. I only take five guava leaves according to my needs. I chose old leaves. It can be seen from the darker color of guava leaves. Avoid light green.
Then, boil again boiled Papaya Flowers with guava leaves and some spoon of salt for about 15 minutes. Then drain.
Mixed With Tempeh
The portion of papaya flowers will be small when cooked just like other flowers. So, we need ingredients to cook with the papaya flowers. Here, I use Tempeh. You can use tofu as well, or lentils.
I use about 250 grams of Tempeh for 250 grams of Papaya Flowers. After being cut into pieces, deep fry Tempeh for crispy texture.
SEASONING
- A lemongrass stalk, cut into 2 parts. flattened
- Enough chili, or red bell pepper.
- 3 cloves of small red onions
- 2 cloves of garlic
- a thumb-size of ginger, slices
- enough cooking oil
- 1/2 of teaspoon salt
MAKING AROMATIC OIL
Aromatic Oil is the perfect seasoning for Papaya Flowers! We only need stir-fry all seasoning in hot oil.
After the aroma comes out of the seasoning, then you can add slices of chili or red bell pepper as optional.
Adding Boiled Papaya Flowers
After making an aromatic Oil, it's time to add papaya flowers. Keep stirring for about 5 minutes.
The final step is to add fried Tempeh. Also, don't forget to add salt and do a taste correction before removing them. Add a little sugar if you can't find a balanced Umami taste.
Stir-fried Papaya Flowers in this cooking way has a less bitter taste. Even my husband and my mother in law love the taste. The main key is not to forget to crush the papaya flowers with salt, and boil them with guava leaves.
Hopefully, this recipe will give you new knowledge that Papaya Flowers can be eaten as a delicious side dish! Never be afraid of trying something new and be creative! You never know if you never try something what you need to try it.
Stay be grateful because you will always find something beautiful even after difficult situation. ❤️
Thank you for reading my blog and reblog if you want my blog this time worthy of reading by others.
Best Regards,
Anggrek Lestari
Anggrek Lestari is an Indonesian fiction writer who has published two major books. Now She is a full-time content creator. She has a goal to share life, poem, and food content that makes others happy and can get inspiration.
Contact Person: [email protected]
Discord: anggreklestari#3009
I wish that all the problems that may be weighing you down right now disappear or at least have a solution.
You have a good attitude, because you don't stop and you keep learning, besides sharing the knowledge that your family has passed on to you.
I didn't think those flowers could be eaten. I love ginger. I didn't know what Tempeh was, but I googled.
This recipe looks delicious.
As I got to the end of your post, I saw that you write poetry. I sometimes do too. I will look for yours. And it says you have two books published...wow.
Have a nice day, see you!
!PIZZA
Hey there.
Glad to see you around. I use my hobby, writing, to share food blog here. I am so happy many people here enjoy it.
Thank you so much for your time. ❤️
I consider it the most gratifying thing, to receive a valuable comment on your post. To know that your words have touched someone. That's why I enjoy Hive so much.
Here I am, greetings from my beautiful Havana.
Well, well, now I have to add papaya flowers to my list of foods to try as soon as possible. The wisdom of our ancestors is key to our survival; I wish we all took more time to learn from our grandparents while they are still alive. Food is a critical point in our existence; sometimes we starve to death when the solution is in our own backyard. If we had only known better...
As usual, the presentation of your dish is impecable; and no doubt this recipe is as delicious as it looks 😁
I hope your health continues to improve and that your house is fully restored soon. Big hug, @anggreklestari 🖤
My house now is finished. My husband help me a lot. Thank you so much for enjoying my post ❤️❤️❤️
What a delicious recipe and very valuable information, I had no idea that you could eat male papaya flowers. This dish looks really beautiful and divine. I really enjoyed reading it, thank you for sharing. I am glad that the difficult situations are passing and I pray to God that from now on you continue to have a full and happy life with your loved ones. Best regards.
Oh, thank you so much for reading my story and cooking results.
Hope there you have a great time ❤️❤️❤️
hello dear friend @anggreklestari good afternoon
What you say is very true, nature is really incredible and holds a lot of mysteries, which we often know about thanks to our friends from hive who share their knowledge with us
It's good that slowly, together with your husband, you are recovering the old house that your family has left you. I have no doubt that soon it will be 100%
I appreciate you sharing this recipe of your mother's
have a beautiful sunday
I’m happy to share my recipe from my late mom. Thanks for stopping by
Hello friend @anggreklestari this recipe is a great contribution, because it is your family inheritance that you share with love and we will be multipliers of this wisdom. Thank you very much for sharing it.
Your dish looked divine, that combination of crunchy and soft is very rich. 💚
❤️❤️❤️ glad you enjoy my post. Hope you and your family have a great day 🌸🌸🌸
A super interesting post, because I had no idea you could eat the flower of the milkweed, much less knew that there were male and female or how difwrenciarlos, I knew of the flower of the auyama but not this one, so thanks for sharing. I hope you finish relieving yourself very soon.
My country side made me learn many things especially to make me and my family can eat daily.
Thanks for stopping by 😊
I never tried eating papaya flowers.. But I tried papaya soup..
This one..it's yummy.. With almond and white fungus...
oh, white fungus! I called it snow mushrooms. I saw many desserts like that, from China bloggers.
we are not get used to eat mushrooms in sweet way, but I will try it for sure later
Hi sis, hope your house would finish soon and i think you made my mind opened about the male papaya flower :). I am sure this time you made a tasty dish with those flowers.. i wonder the taste sis...
Glad my house renovation now is finished.
I get used to cook like that in my village. Thanks sis ❤️
That's great news, sis.
It's awesome you could cook many dishes. You're most welcome, sis 😊
Oh wow, I didn't know male papaya flowers are edible. Thanks for the enlightenment.☺️ I am curious and wanted to taste that dish.
The taste is a bit bitter, like bitter melon but for sure as vegetable lovers, we will love it.
Thanks for stopping by
For me as a Canadian, I have never imagined cooking with the flowers of this plant. I am excited when I learn of these things. The ingredients are so exotic and I wish I could try it.😊
For sure really exotic. Glad I can cooking from ingredients around. Thanks for stopping by ❤️
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@anggreklestari Thank you for showing us this amazing recipe is something totally new to me, which I would like to try it looks great.
I am happy to share this thing for people here. Thanks for stopping by 😊
Looks delicious and healthy :) I love how you can make and eat things that are just right outside the door.
from my chilhood, I learn many things from nature. Glad we can survive in the past when we have no food from market because limit money
One of my favorite vegetables and stir-fried is the best way to enjoy it with warm rice!
for sure it will the best accompanied with warm rice. ❤️
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@nanixxx(1/5) tipped @anggreklestari
Simple but very many benefits of this vegetable. I love it :)
I love it too. Thank you
You're welcome :)