Papaya flower

Carica papaya

flower · vegetable

Clusters of very bitter male flowers, blanched then stir-fried with garlic in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Origin

Tropical America, cooked in Southeast Asia

Season (United States)

all year round

Preparation

Blanched once or twice, water discarded, to soften their bitterness.

Did you know?

Only male papaya trees bear it, and they almost never bear fruit.