Supo Esi (Papaya Soup)

About This Recipe

Supo esi is a traditional Samoan soup that uses unripe papaya as a vegetable. The green papaya softens into the broth, which is enriched with coconut milk for a mildly sweet, creamy finish. This supo esi (papaya soup) is shaped by the home cooks who refined it across generations, balancing tradition with everyday practicality. Served at the table it fills the room — steam rising, deep savory notes, the kind of plate people lean over. Home cooks return to it because the technique is forgiving once the order of operations clicks: build aromatics first, season in layers, and let time do the heavy lifting. The result lands somewhere between everyday and special — humble enough for a weeknight, generous enough for company.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 1 mediumgreen papaya(peeled, seeded, cut into cubes)
• 1 cancoconut milk(400 ml)
• 4 cupschicken or vegetable broth
• 1 smallonion(sliced)
• 2 clovesgarlic(minced)
• 1 tspsalt

Instructions

1. 1

   Sauté aromatics

   In a pot, heat a drizzle of oil over medium heat. Cook onion and garlic 3 minutes until softened.

2. 2

   Add papaya

   Add green papaya cubes and stir to coat with the aromatics.

3. 3

   Add broth

   Pour in broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes until papaya is tender.

4. 4

   Add coconut milk

   Stir in coconut milk and season with salt. Simmer gently 5 minutes. Do not boil vigorously after adding coconut milk.

   A low simmer keeps the coconut milk smooth and prevents curdling.

Variations

• •

  Add cooked chicken pieces for a heartier soup.

• •

  Use butternut squash if green papaya is unavailable.

• •

  Vegetarian: swap the protein for roasted king oyster mushrooms, smoked tofu or cooked chickpeas — adjust seasoning slightly upward to compensate.

• •

  Spicier: add a finely chopped fresh chile or a teaspoon of crushed Aleppo/Urfa pepper to the aromatics for warm, layered heat instead of a single sharp hit.

Storage

Refrigerate up to 3 days. Reheat gently.

Frequently Asked Questions