Happy Friday! Here we are in the middle of October, and it is almost the end of pawpaw season!
If you are thinking, What is José talking about, what is a pawpaw…don’t worry, you are not alone. Most Americans have never heard of this amazing fruit. I think it is like America’s secret fruit.
Pawpaw trees are the largest edible fruit trees native to North America. They grow from the Great Lakes down to portions of the Florida Panhandle, and pawpaws are actually the state fruit of Ohio. I sometimes go for a walk on the Billy Goat Trail in Maryland, which is pawpaw land, and you can eat them right off the trees…they are so good! Here is a video of me from a couple of years ago eating them straight off the tree!
Pawpaw trees produce fruit that sort of has the shape of a small mango, with greenish-black skin, usually three to six inches long. Inside paw paws are pale to bright yellow, with shiny dark seeds. Pawpaws taste kind of like a super sunny day at the beach, which is an amazing flavor in the middle of October… very tropical with a sweet-tart flavor of mangos, bananas, and citrus that makes it difficult to imagine it is grown in the Northeast. They taste like they should be from an island somewhere with palm trees and beautiful blue seas.
I love pawpaws because they are very versatile! Most people use paw paws in sweet things like jams, and also in desserts like pies, ice creams, custards, cookies, cakes, and even quickbreads. I like to use pawpaws in savory recipes in things like curries (cubed and a little less ripe than if you were eating one raw), in salsas, and even in stuffings!
One of my favorite recipes for pawpaws comes from America Eats Tavern, the restaurant we opened to explore the amazing history of American food. It’s a salad of pawpaws and ham with walnuts and walnut praline, dressed with a simple lemon vinaigrette.
Have you cooked with Pawpaws? How do you like to eat them? Tell us all your pawpaw secrets!
I remember the song "way down yonder in the pawpaw patch" which I heard when I lived in Virginia years ago. I have never tried them though because by the the time they fell on the ground in the woods near my house the raccoons, opossums and foxes had beat us to 'em.
Or maybe other two legged beings got there first.
I need to try to find some paw paws, but as far as I know they only grow wild and have never been cultivated (like the cherimoya, which is a relative, from South America - which you see in Latino grocery stores -- watch out for those poisonous seeds!)
I have never seen pawpaws in stores here in DC or even at farmers markets but I am going to ask.
I remember my mom singing the song “picking up paw paws, putting them in your pocket…” but i have not had the opportunity to try them. I guess growing up on the West Coast has its disadvantages
My Great Uncle called them Kentucky Bananas. I've only just eaten the fruit, but I have enjoyed several versions of beer, brewed with paw paws. A Paw paw wheat beer is very light and refreshing. I know folks make paw paw wine, but I have not had the opportunity to try. I'm intrigued by the use of paw paws in savory dishes!
A native Ohioan, I sadly never ate one tho' I can sing the song's refrain from memory and do each time I see articles now about PawPaws! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnpLS5PNZpw
I remember the song "way down yonder in the pawpaw patch" which I heard when I lived in Virginia years ago. I have never tried them though because by the the time they fell on the ground in the woods near my house the raccoons, opossums and foxes had beat us to 'em.
Or maybe other two legged beings got there first.
I need to try to find some paw paws, but as far as I know they only grow wild and have never been cultivated (like the cherimoya, which is a relative, from South America - which you see in Latino grocery stores -- watch out for those poisonous seeds!)
I have never seen pawpaws in stores here in DC or even at farmers markets but I am going to ask.
I can't find them in New Jersey. We have cherimoya, is that similar?
I grew up in maine and have never heard of these. I must have been too far north for them 😅
I remember my mom singing the song “picking up paw paws, putting them in your pocket…” but i have not had the opportunity to try them. I guess growing up on the West Coast has its disadvantages
I just planted several Paw Paws in my yard, looking forward to when they are mature enough to flower and produce fruit
I have never heard of these! Now I'll have to find one to try. Thank you Chef!
My Great Uncle called them Kentucky Bananas. I've only just eaten the fruit, but I have enjoyed several versions of beer, brewed with paw paws. A Paw paw wheat beer is very light and refreshing. I know folks make paw paw wine, but I have not had the opportunity to try. I'm intrigued by the use of paw paws in savory dishes!
A native Ohioan, I sadly never ate one tho' I can sing the song's refrain from memory and do each time I see articles now about PawPaws! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnpLS5PNZpw
I have always lived in the West so Paw paws have never been around but this fascinates me. I totally love the news from Longer Tables.
I grew up in Michigan and they were so delicious, especially in ice cream! During their season you know their ready once they fall off the tree. Yum!