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Green Papaya and Beef Stew

Beef and Papaya Stew 2

A treasure of the Caribbean, infused with wonderful flavors from slow cooking, this Green Papaya and Beef stew is so delicious and tender that it just melts in your mouth. 

What is Beef Stew?

The simplest definition of Beef Stew is comfort food. Beef stew is generally pieces of cut-up beef slow-cooked in a well-seasoned broth. Usually, vegetables are present. In the Caribbean, dumplings and leafy vegetables are traditionally part of the stew. 

A few beef bones might be added to the mixture for flavor enhancement. But versatility, the right of vegetables, provisions (root vegetables), spices, and herbs will make the most delicious comfort food. 

Beef and Papaya Stew
Beef and Papaya Stew

A reminder about stew

A stew dish is also referred to as legume or consomme in the Caribbean.  The ingredients are the same; the only difference may be the liquid. In Western and European cooking, wine is not uncommon to be found in stews. The wine must be drinkable and not too dry, preferably. 

The Caribbean way of making beef stew

The process is simple. The meat is cleaned, seasoned for a couple of hours or overnight, and then cooked halfway cooked. Once the meat is halfway cooked, vegetables are added and slow-cooked until all the ingredients are fully cooked.

There is no need to roll the meat in flour and pan-fry the pieces. This does not apply to this recipe. 

Adding fruits to beef stew

As the title implies, papaya is part of the stew. Papaya is a fruit mainly found in the Caribbean and Latin America. This lovely fruit is very versatile. 

For this particular recipe, we are using green papaya. Why? Because green papayas are not sweet. 

How to make Green Papaya and Beef Stew. 

Here’s a quick reference of how to make the beef stew with papaya fruit.

But first, always get all your ingredients ready before cooking. It saves a lot of time!

  1. Clean the meat. Rinse, pat dry and set aside. 
  2. Mix beef pieces with seasoning
  3. Cook the meat. Add vegetables
  4. Cook at low heat – simmering
  5. Enjoy your beef stew with white rice, creamy polenta or boiled provisions (plantains, potatoes, yam)

This meal does not take 30 minutes, but it is a labor of love if you follow the instructions. You can also use a slow cooker but be sure to add the papaya in the last hour of cooking. The beef will be tender and super delicious. 

Beef and Papaya Stew

Green Papaya and Beef Stew

Every bit of this beef stew is infused with wonderful flavor from slow cooking in a dutch oven. Pair it with a side of grains, root vegetables or even pasta.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine Caribbean
Servings 6
Calories 291 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Clean your meat with lemon or vinegar. Rinse with water and pat dry. Place in a bowl.
  • Add olive oil, salt, steak seasoning, garlic, parsley, and lemon juice. Let marinate for a couple of hours or overnight.
  • In a large, Dutch oven, add beef with marinade. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Once it starts to boil, lower heat and continue to cook.
  • When the meat is halfway cooked, add onion, bell pepper, tomato paste, and tomatoes. Stir to mix. Continue to cook for 5 minutes.
  • Add papaya pieces and bay leaves, stir to mix, cover and let cook until beef pieces are fully cooked on low heat stirring occasionally. Adjust seasoning is necessary and continue to cook for another 3 – 4 minutes. Remove from heat and serve with a side of grains, pasta or root vegetables.

Notes

Only add warm water to meat or stew if necessary. The marinade, tomatoes, and papaya should provide enough moisture and broth.
Use green papaya instead of ripe papaya so the stew is not sweet. Do not use a fully ripe (yellow) papaya.
I used a red bell pepper instead of green because of taste. Red bell peppers are milder than the green ones.
You can also brown the meat if you prefer but it is not necessary.

Nutrition

Calories: 291kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 35gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 94mgSodium: 1193mgPotassium: 800mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1005IUVitamin C: 42mgCalcium: 80mgIron: 5mg

Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.

Keyword Beef Stew, Beef Stew Recipe, Legumes, Payapa
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Nutrition info is automatically generated and provided as a courtesy and as an estimate only.

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Corn Allergy:

Always choose ingredients without corn or corn derivatives.

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