What's better than National Papaya Month? I don't know but since September is National Papaya Month, I'm pretty happy. And there's nothing better than celebrating a food month with some delicious recipes.
Papaya is one of those delicious Latin fruits that's pretty perfect. Whether you're a fan of having a papaya milkshake or a papaya cocktail (seriously, either is OH SO GOOD), you just can't lose. Of course, there's also delicious papaya salsa, papaya soup or papaya salad–either way, here are 5 delicious recipes to celebrate National Papaya Month. Come on, you KNOW you want to!
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Papaya Milkshake (Batida de Lechoza)
Ingredients: 3 cups papaya (fresh or frozen, cut into cubes), 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 4 cups (32 ounces) evaporated milk, 2 1/2 cups ice cubes
Directions:
Put all ingredients into a blender and mix on high speed until the ice is crushed and ingredients are evenly distributed. Serve immediately.
Recipe courtesy of About.com.
Fresh Papaya Salsa
Ingredients: 1 papaya, diced, 1 yellow onion, diced, 1 jalapeno, deseeded and finely chopped, 1 green bell pepper, juice from 2 limes, juice from 1 orange, 1/2 C cilantro leaves, chopped
Directions:
I chopped the onion, peppers, papaya, cilantro and squeezed the lime and orange juice all over everything.
Recipe courtesy of Nutrition Ella.
Chilled Papaya Soup with Pisco and Lime
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons butter, 3 cups papaya, sliced in small cubes, divided, 1/4 cup Pisco (or brandy, but Pisco is authentic to Chile and Peru), 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom, 2 tablespoons turbinado sugar, Juice from one lime, 1/4 cup condensed milk, Pinch of salt
Directions:
Heat the butter on medium-high in a skillet. Saute 1 1/2 cups papaya in the butter for about two minutes, until the papaya begins to soften. Add the Pisco, cardamom, and sugar, and cook for another two minutes (the alcohol will burn off and impart great flavor). Place the cooked papaya, lime juice, condensed milk and a pinch of salt into a blender. Blend until smooth. Chill the puree for at least 2 hours. When plating, place remaining fresh papaya cubes on top of a bed of papaya puree. Add a little more lime, if desired.
Recipe courtesy of TheKitchn.com.
Papaya Mint Salad
Ingredients: 1 cup fresh papaya, 1/2 cup jicama, 1/4 cup red onion, 1/2 jalapeño, 3 tbsp fresh mint, juice of 1 lime, 2 tbsp coconut, 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, sea salt
Directions:
Chop the papaya, jicama, red onion, and mint. Seed and dice the jalapeño. Place ingredients in a mixing bowl and toss with lime juice. Sprinkle with coconut, olive oil, and sea salt immediately before serving.
Recipe courtesy of Sabor Kitchen.
Frozen Papaya Cocktail (Coctel de Papaya Helado)
Ingredients: 2 cups light rum (Havana Club Silver or another white rum), 1/2 cup Malibu Coconut Rum, 1/2 cup lime juice (freshly squeezed is best), 2 1/2 cups chopped Papaya, 1 tbsp sugar, 2 cups ice cubes
Directions:
Blend all ingredients save for the ice cubes until the Papaya has been pureed. Add ice cubes and blend until the whole mixture is almost smooth. Place it in a large pitcher or bowl and place in freezer for one hour. Pour into glasses to serve.
Recipe courtesy of Taste of Cuba.
