A papaya puesta, papaya partida

Papaya is a tropical fruit that is full of natural enzymes that break down food. These enzymes have been used in supplements to aid digestion. I like to use this particular property of the fruit for another purpose; marinades.

You can create a simple marinade, as I did, using the following ingredients:
- half a small ripened papaya (chopped and mashed)
- the juice of half a lemon
- olive oil
- chili powder
- red chili flakes
- freshly ground black pepper
- salt (to taste)
- thyme

Speaking of time, you will also need some of that. Place some skinned chicken pieces in a bowl and cover it with the marinade. (I used four quartered boneless chicken thighs.) Cover it with plastic wrap and leave it to sit in the fridge for 12-24 hours.

Transfer the contents to a roaster, cover and place it in an oven set to 350°F. Cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 182°F.


Note: Never take chances with chicken. Always use a meat thermometer!

The result will be an incredibly tender and juicy chicken.

Feel free to cook this chicken in any other way, including:
- barbecuing
- grilling
- broiling
- pan frying


Enjoy the papaya chicken with your favourite starch. A great combination is having it with cornbread. My recipe will be coming soon.