Besides harvesting and using the fruit, the leaves of the papaya tree can also be processed into many delicious and appealing dishes, especially stir-fried dishes. Let’s cook with TasteVN and try to make 3 tasty and unique stir-fried papaya leaf dishes to enrich your meals!
1. Stir-fried papaya leaves with garlic
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Preparation
15 minutes
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Cooking
30 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Stir-fried papaya leaves with garlic For 4 people
Papaya shoots 200 gr Fern 200 gr Eggplant 100 gr Garlic 5 cloves Cooking oil 2 tablespoons Salt/pepper A little
Information and places to buy various ingredients
What is thorny eggplant? Where to buy thorny eggplant
- Thorny eggplant, also known as thorny nightshade, rough eggplant, or wild eggplant, is a plant species belonging to the nightshade family (Solanaceae).
- This is a wild plant that grows in several regions of our country, particularly concentrated in the Central Highlands and northern provinces.
- Thorny eggplant is a perennial herbaceous plant. Its branches and leaves are covered with many hairs and sharp spines. The fruit is plump, round, smooth, has a long stalk, and is green or yellow; when ripe, it turns red, with yellow seeds.
What is bracken? Where to buy bracken
- Bracken is a type of plant belonging to the fern family.
- They often grow in areas with high humidity, such as riverbanks, streams, dense forests, or in shady gardens.
Notes when buying thorny eggplant and bracken
- You can find thorny eggplant and bracken at local markets in the area.
- It is advisable to go to the market early to select the freshest eggplant and vegetables.
- Since these plants are distributed regionally, you can use these two types or not, depending on your preferences!
How to prepare Stir-fried Papaya Leaves with Garlic
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Prepare the papaya leaves
When you buy papaya leaves, cut off the old stem, remove older leaves and any pests (if present), then soak them in salted water for about 15 minutes, rinse several times with clean water, and let them drain.
Next, use a knife to finely shred the papaya leaves.
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Prepare other ingredients
Remove the stem from the bitter eggplant, wash it clean, let it drain, then use a pestle to mash it.
Remove the old leaves from the fern, then wash it clean and cut it into small pieces with a knife.
Peel the garlic and mince it finely.
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Stir-fry papaya leaves
Place a pan on the stove, add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil and heat it, then add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
When the garlic is fragrant, add the mashed bitter eggplant to the pan and stir-fry on high heat for about 2 minutes until the eggplant is cooked. Then add the papaya leaves to the pan and continue to stir for another 3 minutes.
Next, add the fern to the pan, mix well until the fern is just cooked, then add 1 teaspoon of salt to the pan and stir well to allow the ingredients to absorb the seasoning.
Plate the stir-fried papaya leaves with garlic, sprinkle a little ground pepper on top, and garnish for a beautiful presentation to complete the dish.
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Final Product
Stir-fried papaya leaves with garlic is an attractive dish that carries the flavors of the Northwestern mountains. The fern, soft and sweet papaya leaves, and the stir-fried eggplant, cooked just right, still retain their crispness and distinctive aroma. This dish is wonderful when served with hot rice and accompanied by a bit of braised meat or fish!
2. Stir-fried papaya leaves with beef
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Preparation
15 minutes
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Cooking
30 minutes
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Difficulty Level
Easy
Ingredients for Stir-fried papaya leaves with beef For 4 people
Papaya leaves 2 pieces (large type) Beef 300 gr Minced garlic 1 tablespoon Seasoning powder 1/2 tablespoon Fish sauce 1/2 tablespoon Cooking oil 1 tablespoon Salt A little
How to choose fresh and delicious beef
- To choose good beef, you should observe the color of the meat. Good meat usually has a bright red color, not dark red, and the beef fat is light yellow.
- You should choose small and tender pieces of meat, with fine fibers, and when you press it with your hand, it has good elasticity.
- If you see the meat has small white spots that easily come off, it is likely a parasite, so you should not buy it.
- Avoid buying small pieces of meat that have been pre-cut because they will not be delicious when cooked.
See details: How to choose fresh beef
How to prepare Stir-fried papaya leaves with beef
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Prepare the beef
To remove dirt and eliminate odors, after purchasing the beef, soak it in diluted salt water for about 10 minutes, then take out the meat, rinse it several times with water, and let it drain.
After that, use a knife to cut the meat horizontally into thin, bite-sized pieces.
How to clean beef without odor
- Method 1: Roast a small piece of ginger until cooked, then peel off the outer skin and crush it, rub it evenly around the beef, and rinse it clean with water.
- Method 2: Soak the beef in white wine for about 15 minutes, then rinse it clean under cold water.
- Method 3: Roast a shallot until dry, then peel it, crush it, and marinate it with the beef.
See details: How to prepare beef without odor
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Prepare papaya leaves
When buying papaya leaves, you need to strip off the veins, keeping only the thin leaf blades. Rinse the papaya leaves thoroughly with water and let them drain.
Boil a pot of water on the stove, then add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and stir well.
Next, add the papaya leaves to the pot and boil for about 5 – 7 minutes until the leaves are cooked, then remove and let cool.
Tip: Boiling papaya leaves with a little salt helps the leaves retain their natural green color.
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Stir-fried Papaya Leaves
Add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to the pan and heat it, then add all the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
Next, add the beef, stir-fry at medium heat until the beef is medium rare and firm, then add 1/2 tablespoon of monosodium glutamate and 1/2 tablespoon of fish sauce to the pan, mixing well to let the beef absorb the seasoning.
Next, add the boiled papaya leaves and stir well for another 3 minutes before turning off the heat.
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Final Product
Plate the stir-fried papaya leaves with beef, add some pepper, and garnish for a beautiful presentation.
The dish is delicious with tender and sweet beef, infused with the distinctive aroma of papaya leaves, making it incredibly appealing.
The dish will taste better if served with garlic chili soy sauce and accompanied by rice!
3. Stir-fried Papaya Leaves with Pork Belly
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Preparation
15 minutes
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Cooking
30 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Stir-Fried Papaya Leaves with Pork Belly Serves 4
Young papaya leaves 200 gr Pork belly 300 gr Green chili 20 gr Shallots 2 bulbs Cilantro 1 sprig MSG 1/2 tablespoon Fish sauce 1 tablespoon Salt A little Cooking oil 1 tablespoon
How to Choose Good Pork Belly
- You should choose pieces of meat that are bright pink, have high elasticity, and do not leave a dent when pressed with your hand.
- Fresh meat will be firm, evenly colored, not slimy, and have no unpleasant odor.
- Additionally, you should select meat with a balanced ratio of lean meat and fat, with a thick outer layer of skin, and fat about 1.5 – 2cm thick, with the lean meat tightly attached to the fat, which will taste better when stewed.
See details: How to choose good meat, ensure quality
How to cook Stir-fried Papaya Leaves with Pork Belly
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Prepare the ingredients
Pork belly purchased should be soaked in diluted salt water for 10 minutes, then rinsed several times with clean water, and cut into bite-sized pieces with a knife.
How to remove the smell of pork
- To completely eliminate the smell of pork, before preparing the dish, briefly dip the pieces of meat in boiling water for about 2 minutes, then take them out and rinse with cold water.
- Another useful tip is to add a little white wine to the boiling water for the pork. The wine effectively cleans the smell.
- Use lemon, vinegar, salt, or ginger to rub on the pork and let it sit for about 5 – 10 minutes, then rinse with water.
See details: Tips to eliminate the smell of various types of meat that women should know
Shallots peeled and sliced. Cilantro washed and chopped finely. Green chili washed.
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Prepare and boil the papaya leaves
After purchasing, cut off the hard and old parts (if any) of the papaya leaves, then wash them thoroughly with water.
Bring a pot of water to a boil and add 1 teaspoon of salt, stir well, then add all the prepared papaya leaves to the pot, and boil for about 3 – 5 minutes until the papaya is cooked.
Tip: Boiling the papaya leaves before cooking helps reduce the pungent smell and bitter taste of the leaves.
Remove the papaya, let it cool, then use a knife to chop it into small pieces.
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Stir-fried papaya leaves
Heat a pan, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and let it heat up, then add the pork belly and fry briefly over medium heat until the meat is golden brown on all sides.
Next, add 20g of green chili, 1/2 tablespoon of seasoning powder, 1/3 tablespoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, sliced shallots, then continue to stir well for the ingredients to absorb the seasoning evenly.
Then, add the papaya leaves to the pan, stir for another 2 minutes.
Finally, add the chopped coriander into the pan, stir well for another minute to complete the dish.
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Final Dish
Belly pork is tender and evenly infused with spices, combined with crispy, sweet papaya leaves, all blending together to create a very delicious and visually appealing stir-fry dish. Let’s get into the kitchen and show off your skills for the family to enjoy!
How to Choose Fresh Papaya Leaves
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Choose papaya leaves located at the top, with a light green color, fresh, and uniformly colored on all sides.
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Select firm and robust papaya shoots that still ooze sap, as these are young papayas just harvested.
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Avoid purchasing damaged, rotten, or wilted papaya leaves, as they will feel light and soft in hand.
See more
The article above has guided you to make 3 unique and delicious ways to cook papaya leaves, which is a light dish that provides plenty of vitamins. Wishing you success in referencing and preparing this delicious meal!
*Source of the recipe and images from YouTube channels AVI Vlogs, ANHTU TV – REAL LIFE. and HOA BLANG
