Let’s Celebrate National Papaya Month! Papaya Berry Smoothie

September is National Papaya Day, so let’s enjoy some sweet fresh papaya this month! It’s also National Better Breakfast Month, so how about making some healthy and yummy smoothies?

 

I kinda feel guilty calling this for today’s recipe, but it’s my blog style so bear with me!

 

Ready to check the recipe? Let’s cook!

 

<Today’s Recipe>

Papaya Berry Smoothie

<Ingredients>

• ¼ papaya – trimmed and cube cut
• 1 cup frozen berries
• Some ice cubes
• 1 cup water
• Optional – Some sweetener like maple syrup, honey, or simple syrup (sugar: water=1:1)

 

<Directions>

1. Combine all the ingredients together in a blender and let it work until the mixture is nice and smooth. 
2. Transfer the mixture in to a glass and decorate with some papaya. Cheers!

Hmm, so this is papaya. As I told you in a previous blog entry, some tropical fruits are unavailable as fresh in grocery stores in Japan, or even if they’re available, they are priced just like a gem. I remember I ate papayas when I was a kid, but only as a part of canned cocktail fruits, so when I found it in a grocery store in the US, I was like “OK, this is what real papaya looks like.” And I have to admit…after living in the US for more than 15 years, I finally gave it a try. Why did I wait to try papaya so long? That’s because they’re huge! I didn’t believe I could finish it all before it went wrong, so I just said “Hello, maybe next time” to papayas…and finally that “next time” came. 

 

Maybe because I don’t know much about papayas, but I felt nurturing papaya till it’s perfectly ripe is difficult…? Just a slice of papaya wasn’t that sweet so I added frozen berries to make this smoothie. This experience reminded me of how my friend from Vietnam always says “Why are tropical fruits in the US always not sweet enough?” Until I try papayas or other tropical fruits like dragon fruits, dorians, passion fruits, I just dream about the taste and keep “must-try” recipes. 

 

So for those who have tried papaya, I have a question…are papayas supposed to be sweet or not really, like the skin side of cantaloupe? 

 

<Other Recommended Recipes>

I eat more green papayas than yellow ripe papaya! Green Papaya Salad

Got some fruit cocktail? Chunky Fruits Tea Jelly

Have some gorgeous breakfast! Yogurt, Berry Smoothie Parfait

Enjoy home cooking and your own creation of homemade food:)