If a papaya mushy or smells overly sweet, it’s too ripe to eat. If it’s green and quite firm, it needs to ripen for a few days. Set it on your counter and allow it to turn a little yellow. Both the large, long Caribbean papaya variety and the smaller Hawaiian variety can be tested for ripeness in this way. Papayas bruise extremely easily, so handle it with care on the way home from the market. You can easily cut around the blemishes to avoid them.
Fresh or frozen blueberries. Blueberries have a lot of antioxidants and paired with papaya they would make a powerfully healthy smoothie. Kiwi and avocado. The kiwi offsets the papaya’s sweetness with its bright flavor, and avocado makes for an especially creamy smoothie. Spinach or kale. Making a “green” smoothie is a great way to get a serving of vegetables at breakfast. Papaya is so sweet and flavorful that you won’t be able to taste the greens.
A cup of yogurt, either flavored or plain. A cup of almond or cashew milk. A cup of orange juice or apple juice.
A scoop of protein powder. A few spoonfuls of chia seeds. A tablespoon of peanut or almond butter.
If you like a thinner smoothie, add more juice, milk or water. If you prefer your smoothies on the thicker side, add a few spoonfuls of instant oatmeal. Blend until smooth.
