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3.04 from 30 votes
Dulce de Lechosa (Candied Papaya)
Prep Time
1 hr 15 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 15 mins
 

Delicious papaya in a tasty syrup, what is not to like? It goes perfect with a piece of cheese!

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Latin, Puerto Rican
Servings: 3 cups
Calories: 809 kcal
Ingredients
  • 2 lbs papaya From green to almost ripe
  • 1 tbsp baking soda
  • 3 sticks cinnamon
  • 2 whole cloves
  • 2.5 cups raw (turbinado) sugar Or brown sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Cut the papaya in halves. Peel the skin and with a spoon, remove the seeds and membranes inside. Cut the papaya into slices, approximately 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick.

  2. Place all the pieces in a plastic container and fill it up with water and the baking soda. This will help the slices to stay together and not break up. Soak in the baking soda water for 1 hour.

  3. After the hour is over, drain all the water and rinse with fresh water the pieces of papaya. You might want to rinse twice to make sure all the baking soda is removed from the papaya.

  4. Set a pot in medium-high on your stove and place the papaya pieces, the sugar, cloves, vanilla extract and cinnamon sticks in the pot and start to boil Once is boiling, reduce the temperature to medium and cover, let it cook for 40 minutes. Stir the papaya pieces at least twice during that cooking period.

  5. By this time, there should be a syrup forming cooking the papayas. Check if the papayas are cooked. If they aren't, let it cook covered for 10 more minutes. If they are, remove the cover and let it cook, stirring the papaya pieces gently and keeping an eye on your syrup. Let it cook for 20 minutes.

  6. When the syrup is thick, and a beautiful caramel color, your candy is ready! Let is cook and store in the refrigerator. It will last for several weeks in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts
Dulce de Lechosa (Candied Papaya)
Amount Per Serving (3 cups)
Calories 809 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 1126mg49%
Potassium 614mg18%
Carbohydrates 202g67%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 189g210%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 2873IU57%
Vitamin C 184mg223%
Calcium 120mg12%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.