Dulce de Lechosa (Venezuelan Candied Green Papaya in Spiced Syrup)
In short: Cubes of firm green papaya simmered slowly in a dark syrup of unrefined cane sugar, cinnamon and cloves until glossy, tender and amber. It takes about 1 h 40 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 1 h 15 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 1 h 40 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 195 kcal
Dulce de lechosa is the candied papaya of the Venezuelan Christmas table, a dark, glossy sweet served after the big meal. Firm green papaya (lechosa) is boiled briefly to remove its milky sap, then simmered for an hour in a syrup of papelón, cinnamon and cloves until the cubes turn translucent and tender. It is eaten on its own or with fresh white cheese, which balances the sweetness.
Instructions
- Peel the papaya, halve it, scoop out the seeds and cut the flesh into 3 cm (1 1/4 in) cubes. Prick each cube once or twice with a fork so the syrup can soak in.
- Put the papaya in a pot with the 1 L (4 cups) of water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10 minutes, then drain and rinse under cold water to remove the milky sap.
- In the same pot, bring the papelón, 500 ml (2 cups) of water, the cinnamon, cloves, orange peel and salt to a boil, stirring for about 5 minutes until the sugar dissolves.
- Add the papaya and lime juice and lower the heat to a gentle simmer. Cook uncovered for 50 to 60 minutes, stirring now and then, until the cubes look translucent and amber and the syrup coats a spoon.
- Let cool in the pot for 30 minutes, since the syrup thickens as it cools. Serve warm or chilled, on its own or with slices of fresh white cheese.
Tips
- Choose papaya that is firm and mostly green, because ripe fruit turns to mush. If the fruit is only slightly yellow, cut the first boil to 5 minutes.
- Keep the heat low after the papaya goes into the syrup so the cubes stay whole. Store in a jar, covered with syrup, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Questions and answers
Why is it called dulce de lechosa?
Lechosa is the Venezuelan word for papaya, and it comes from leche, Spanish for milk, because unripe papaya releases a milky sap. Dulce means sweet.
What do you serve it with?
It is eaten on its own, with a slice of fresh white cheese, or with ice cream. In Venezuela it is a Christmas favorite.
Can I use ripe papaya?
Ripe papaya is too soft and falls apart in the syrup. Use fruit that is firm, with green or lightly yellow skin and pale, crisp flesh.
How long does it take to make Dulce de Lechosa (Venezuelan Candied Green Papaya in Spiced Syrup)?
About 1 h 40 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 1 h 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Dulce de Lechosa (Venezuelan Candied Green Papaya in Spiced Syrup)?
About 195 kcal per serving, with 1 g of protein, 49 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 195 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 49 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 45 g |
| Sodium | 40 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
