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Discover the flavor of a traditional Tico green papaya dish!



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Published on Saturday, January 18, 2025






By Melissa Pette



Exploring Costa Rican cuisine is such a fun way to dive into the culture and really appreciate all its richness and variety.



If you’ve been lucky enough to live in this amazing country, you probably already know that trying local dishes opens the door to so much more than just good food, it’s a window into traditions, customs, and an entirely new way of life!



Last week, we whipped up a tasty arracache picadillo. This week, let’s try something new: green papaya picadillo!



We’re all familiar with the sweet and fragrant papaya, but did you know that unripe, green papaya is perfect for making this traditional Tico favorite?



Have you ever had this dish while in Costa Rica?



So, let’s go to the kitchen!



Here’s what you’ll need (all easy to find in Costa Rica):

  • 1 green papaya.


  • 1/2 kilo (about 1 lb) chicken breast.


  • 2 onions.


  • 2 red sweet peppers.


  • 1 teaspoon fine chopped garlic.


  • 1 teaspoon annatto (achiote).


  • 1/2 cup vegetable or sunflower oil.


  • 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (go for Lizano trust me, it’s the best!).


  • Some chopped cilantro.









Start by peeling the papayas and chopping them into small cubes. Toss them into a pot of boiling water with 1/4 of the oil and let them cook for about 5 minutes.



In another pot, boil the chicken (no oil needed) for about 10 minutes. Once it’s cooked, let it cool, then shred or chop it into tiny pieces.



Finely chop the onions and red sweet peppers.



In a large saucepan, heat the remaining oil and toss in the papaya, chicken, onions, red sweet peppers, garlic, annatto, cilantro and Lizano sauce.



Don’t add salt—it’s not necessary.



Stir everything together for about 2 minutes until all the flavors blend beautifully.



And that’s it! You’ve just made a delicious green papaya picadillo, a classic Costa Rican dish.



The secret to this recipe is the flavorful chicken, which makes the whole dish come alive. Plus, it’s low in calories and pairs perfectly with other veggies.



Don’t forget to grab some warm tortillas and your favorite cold beer to complete the experience.



Have a pura vida weekend!




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Everyone is invited to share their recipes with a horizontal photo of the dish by emailing 
food@amcostarica.com. More Costa Rica's delightful recipes can be found on the AM Costa Rica Food page.





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