Papaya

Thai papaya salad is an ideal summer side dish and packs up well if you want to take it with you.

So you can't hop a flight to the Caribbean. At least you can pretend with these recipes for mangoes, pineapples, papayas, and more.

To pick a ripe papaya, look for skin that has more yellow-orange-red tones than green. It should yield slightly when gently squeezed.

The difference between this papaya salad and a Thai-style one comes down to spice and sugar, says chef and author David Tanis. The Vietnamese one is sweeter and less hot. Have all the ingredients assembled, but dress the salad just before serving.

Mild, crunchy green papaya is not the same as underripe papaya. Look for it at Asian or Mexican groceries.