Papaya soup (青木瓜汤) during confinement

This soup is said to increase breast milk production and the amount of colostrum, which has very high levels of antibodies to protect baby against infection. You can use chicken or pork to cook the stock. Some people like to use Threadfin fish cut into big slices. Add the fish when the soup is cooked and simmer until the soup is milky.

Papaya is one of the few fruits that have vitamins A, B, C and E as well as flavonoids and minerals, especially potassium and magnesium. It contains dietary fiber, which is associated with lowering cholesterol and the laxative effects helps to relieve constipation especially for the elderly and very young children. The vitamin C in papaya helps in lowering the absorption of carcinogenic substances like nitrate and nitrites. Papaya leaves contain protein digesting enzymes such as papain and chymopapain. Papain breaks down connective tissues that come in direct contact with it therefore wrapping meat in papaya leaves will tenderize the meat. Do not treat too long otherwise the meat will become dry and tasteless. 

Ingredients

1 unripe green papaya

Pork bones

20 smashed black pepper corns if cooking for confinement

200 gm smashed ginger if using fish to minimize the fishy smell

This cut of pork is best for cooking soup because the meat is very sweet and tender when cooked. The bone in the meat will add flavor and sweetness to the soup.

Remember to blanch the pork bones to remove the scum

Put the blanched pork into the boiling water and cook on high for 1 hour

Add the papaya, yuk chuk, red dates and kei chi to the prepared stock

Cook on low for another 3 hours

In Indonesia, the leaves are boiled, sliced finely and fried with pounded chilli, garlic and shallots, which will reduce ‘heatiness’ in the body.

Papaya juice is becoming popular as the natural cure for dengue fever because of its ability to reduce fever and ‘heatiness’ in the body. Drink the juice once a day until the fever subsides. It is very bitter but it works. Use only the leafy part and not the stem.

The recipe is:

Wash 2 pieces of raw papaya leaves, pound and squeeze for the juice. You should get 2 tablespoons of juice.