Papaya and Serrano Pepper Chutney: Shrimp Kabobs

While at the farmers market the other day I saw the most gorgeous papaya showcased in rustic tub filled with ice. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of them. They were so pretty that I ended up buying some and not having a clue what to do with them. But when the thought of wanting to make shrimp kabobs came to mind, I knew right then that I had to make a papaya and serrano pepper sauce to go along with um’.  

The beauty of kabobs is how easy they come together. I'd say, aside from the sauce, the only difficult task here is peeling the shrimp. But once that's done, all that's left to do is dipping the shrimp in some sauce and threading them onto a skewer with your choice of vegetables and fruit; I went with red, green, and yellow bell peppers, onions, and pineapple. From there, you can throw them right onto the grill or pop them in the oven. 

The sauce itself is delightful. The fresh papaya fruit is sued to create the delicious sauce and can be used as both the glaze during grilling and as a condiment on the side. It’s tangy, sweet, and savory, all in one.

This recipe makes a lot of sauce, so you’ll have some left over to use however you’d like. I'd say it would make a perfect dipping sauce for these cabbage, carrot, and avocado spring rolls. 

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Papaya and Serrano Pepper Chutney

Ingredients:

• 1/2 large papaya
• 1 or 2 serrano peppers
• 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 sweet onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup organic sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon salt, to taste

Directions:

• Scrap and clean papaya, remove skin and chop.
• Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat, add onions and saute for 5 minuets or until slightly translucent.
• Meanwhile prepare serrano pepper, remove seeds and veins then quarter.
• Once onions are fragrant and softened, add pepper and sugar. Stir and let cook until sugar dissolves.
• Add water and vinegar, allow sauce to come to a boil.
• Add papaya and stir. Once back to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes until papaya has softened.
• Remove sauce from heat and let cool.
• Pour ingredients into a blender and puree until smooth and creamy.
• Taste, add salt as needed.