🇨🇻 Cape Verdean Cuisine

Doce de Papaia

Papaya Jam

Prep Time 15 min
Servings 8
Difficulty Easy

A luscious Cape Verdean papaya preserve slow-cooked with sugar, cinnamon, and cloves until thick and amber, spread on bread or eaten by the spoonful.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. 1 Combine papaya cubes and sugar in a heavy saucepan. Let sit 30 min to macerate.
  2. 2 Add water, cinnamon stick, cloves, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
  3. 3 Reduce heat to low. Simmer, stirring frequently, for 45-60 min until thick and amber-colored.
  4. 4 Remove cinnamon stick and cloves.
  5. 5 Pour into sterilized jars while hot. Seal and let cool completely.
  6. 6 Spread on bread, crackers, or serve alongside cheese.

Did You Know?

Cape Verdean grandmothers judge the readiness of doce de papaia by dropping a spoonful onto a cold plate — if it wrinkles when pushed, it is perfect.