Anyone here use Paw Paws?

Hello. I'm pretty new here, been reading a while, not really posting. I got sick of the right wing nutcases on some other forums, so thought I'd hang out in a better neighborhood for a while. Not that cooking is very political.

Does anyone here use paw paws for anything? I've got several trees, and I didn't like them so much at first, but they are sort of an acquired taste, kind of like caviar, that really grows on you.

One of my favorite uses is to make paw paw blondies. I actually used Martha Stewart's butterscotch blondie recipe and adapted it a bit, substituting mashed paw paw for the butterscotch chips, and adding a bit more flour to compensate for the extra moisture. I can post the recipe if anyone is interested.

Anyone else use paw paws?

Dennis
SE Michigan

I never lived anywhere they grew. Aren't they only in the south? What are they like?

Hi, well, traditionally considered a southern/midwestern thing, but actually they are hardy into S. Ontario. I live in the suburbs of Detroit, and they are completely hard here.

The fruit is sort of interesting, kind of a combination of things. Texture is similar to very ripe mango or ripe banana. Flavor is hard to describe. It has a predominantly banana flavor, but it has overtones of butterscotch/caramel flavors and it has a little bit of a sort of resinous flavor that is concentrated right under the skin. They do have big, black seeds that have to be removed.

All I know about paw paws is that old Burl I'ves tune "Way Down Yonder In the Paw Paw Patch."

Ha!

Welcome to DU, by the way. Have you ever been to Owen Sound ON? My grandmother was born there and I've always wondered what it's like.

I bet it's one of those love em or hate em kind of things as well. But I've been singing the song all day and wondering if I can grow one in WA state. I may have to investigate the growing.

Hi, no, one reason they don't sell them commercially is that they are very fragile. They bruise easily, and they only last about 3 days once ripened. Like a banana, they go from green to yellow to black as they age.

They would grow very well in most parts of Washington state, except perhaps the cold desert or very high altitude regions. Hardy to about -20 degrees Fahrenheit.

many decades old...and it has gotten below that temp here many times in my lifetime. The woods keeps them warmer.

They do NOT grow well out in the open, or along the fencerow...they want to be in the woods in filtered light. They are abundant in this area, and grow SLOW..(this area being central Ohio)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pawpaw

:)

:hi:

I think you'll find this forum a little more active than the gardening one just now. It's nice to be able to pop over here and daydream about tasty dishes while my blood pressure goes down after reading about the latest GOP outrage in GD or LBN. And I've added lots of great recipes and bookmarks to my collection courtesy of all the 'liberally' talented cooks here. :)

Unfortunately, I live in the city, and have no yard.

You could probably use them in jams or preserves of some sort, and likely in custards too.

http://www.ohiopawpawfest.com/

When I was small my father and a friend would go hunting and come back with buckets of them. I went to the festival a few years ago and still have the shirt.

I haven't found a stand to pick, too much of the river bottom land that they prefer has been plowed.

We use green paw paw in jams and pepper sauce. We blend green paw paw, add it to the rest of ingredients and boil.

my cousin made it years ago and I remember it was the BEST *drool* Check this place out http://www.pawpaw.kysu.edu/pawpaw/recipes.htm

congrats on getting some. The raccoons here have gotten them first every year

. . . meaning I avoided them. IMHO, papayas stink like vomit (which makes sense, as papaya enzyme is used as a digestive supplement) and I can't stand them. Neighbors have so many neglected trees they just permeate the area on hot days. Pawpaws may be related, but aren't tropical. This qualifies as my trivia for the day. :)

this really is the last week for them here (and they were almost TOO ripe if that can be said about a Paw Paw)

Have never used them in recipes, just out of hand eating