Papaya Summer Salad
It’s officially the start to summer and it is the perfect time for some light and nutritious fruit salads that never get old! We all know the standard fruit salads where every fruit that touches each other starts to taste the same (honeydew melon, grapes, pineapple, etc.) - it honestly reminds me of Luby’s and I can’t get past that taste. So this summer I am on a mission to create more exciting ways to enjoy fresh fruit and incorporate some unique flavors.
One really delicious fruit I never seem to get enough of is papaya! It’s juicy, sweet and light in flavor - but somehow I feel like I can never eat an entire papaya before it goes bad. In an attempt to solve this problem, I’ve created this Papaya Summer Salad! It’s got the juicy fruits (papaya and mango) topped with things like fresh lime juice, passion fruit and a sprinkle of fresh mint! The best part is that the longer this sits and marinades, the better the taste gets!
Papaya Summer Salad
Ingredients:
1/2 ripe papaya (look for yellow-ness on the outside)
2 ripe mangoes (I prefer ataulfo mango but any sweet and soft mango will do!)
1/2 orange (for zesting)
1-2 limes
Handful of fresh mint
1/4 cup passion fruit OR passion fruit syrup (if you have trouble finding this, look for frozen passion fruit cubes and blend with a tiny amount of water + agave to create a quick syrup)
Instructions:
Prepare your fruits by removing the papaya seeds, cutting off the skin and chopping papaya into small cubes (approx. 1/2 inch pieces)
Cut your mangoes into small pieces as well (removing skin and avoiding the pit in the middle). Add both fruits to a bowl and mix.
Zest your orange on top of the mixed fruit and top with 1 squeezed lime. You can also add lime zest here, but I prefer to use chili lime seasoning instead (see Optional Add-ons below)
Chop your mint into very small pieces and toss into the bowl. Mix and combine well.
Lastly, top with your passion fruit and let sit chilled in the fridge for at least 15 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
This recipe can last up to 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge. I enjoy eating this as a snack or as a side dish to a simple rice and beans combo for lunch! Papaya contains many vitamins and is considered an antioxidant so we want to enjoy this fruit salad knowing we are doing good for our bodies. It’s also a great option to bring to a grilling summer party (where we often find much more salty and heavy foods) because papaya contains papain, knowing for lowering the bloated feeling after a big meal!
Optional add-ons:
Chili lime seasoning (the one from Trader Joe’s has me in a chokehold right now!)
Kosher salt (helps bring out intensity of the flavors)
Agave (if needed for additional sweetness)
Additional fruits can be added according to taste, my favorites are pineapple, peach and raspberry for this particular combo
