Pacific Island - Baked Papaya Dessert - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 papayas, small, ripe, peeled, seeded, and cut in half lengthwise
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups coconut milk (canned, bottled, or fresh)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375\u00b0F
Place the papayas, cut side up, in a shallow baking dish.
Sprinkle with the sugar and add the water.
Bake uncovered in the middle of the oven for 11/2 hours, or until the papayas are tender but still keep their shape.
Every half hour, pull out the oven rack and baste the papayas with the liquid from the dish.
For the last 5 minutes of baking raise the heat to 400\u00b0F and bake until the syrup gets thick and becomes the color of caramel.
Turn off the heat and pour the coconut milk into the center of the papayas.
Leave the papayas in the oven until the milk gets warm, about 5 minutes.
Serve immediately, or refrigerate and serve cold, they are good either way.