Baked Papaya with Meat Filling

Ingredients

• 5 to 6 lbs green papaya cut lengthwise into halves and seeded
• 4 medium firm ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded and finely chopped
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp finely chopped chilies
• ½ cup finely chopped onion
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp finely chopped garlic
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 4 tbsp Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• ground black pepper

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. In a heavy 10 to 12 inch skillet, heat the oil over moderate heat until a light haze forms above it.
3. Sauté onions and garlic until they are soft and transparent but not brown.
4. Stir in the beef breaking it up with a fork and cook until all traces of pink disappear.
5. Add the tomatoes (or substitute 1½ cups chopped, drained canned tomatoes), chilies, salt and pepper.
6. Stirring occasionally, cook briskly until most of the liquid in the pan has evaporated and the mixture is thick enough to hold its shape almost solidly in the spoon.
7. Taste for seasoning.
8. Spoon the meat mixture into the papaya shells, spreading and smoothing the filling with a spatula.
9. Place the shells side by side in a shallow roasting pan.
10. Pour enough boiling water in the pan to come about 1 inch up the sides of the papaya.
11. Bake for 1 hour then sprinkle each shell with 1 tbsp of the cheese and bake for 30 minutes, or until the top is delicately browned.
12. Top shells with remaining cheese when ready to serve.