My husband recently brought papaya home and I wasn't happy. I've had papaya before and never really liked the taste. Yes, it's very healthy but I knew this papaya would just end up spending a week on our kitchen counter until I would inevitably throw it away.
My husband, trying to prove a point, started slicing it open. He took a bite and realized that it wasn't his favorite fruit either. So what do you do with fruit you aren't so fond of? Make a smoothie!
That is exactly what we did. Kind of not so long story short, we made one incredible papaya banana smoothie.
The next day, I went out and bought 3 more papayas and started working on perfecting the perfect papaya banana smoothie. 5 papayas later and 1 happy tummy, I finally nailed it!
If you haven't noticed, I really don't post any smoothie or drink recipes...EVER! Wait, that's a lie.
About a month into blogging I posted a Green Power Smoothie. It's absolutely embarrassing!
Don't look!
I know, you just did!!!
The recipe is delicious but the picture was taken at a time when my photography wasn't considered photography :D I'll get to retaking it eventually...
That being said, I don't share drink recipes a lot so when I do, it's kind of a BIG deal.
So why is this papaya banana smoothie a big deal?
Well, besides it tasting like a tropical volcano (a good one, with rainbows coming out of it) in my mouth, it is crazy healthy and low in calories.
The health benefits of bananas are no secret but...
What are the health benefits of papaya?
- Papaya is a very low-calorie fruit. Papaya and watermelon have roughly the same amount of calories per cup (54 calories). However, papaya has 5x more fiber than watermelon. Making papaya great for weight loss.
- Papaya will straighten out any digestive problems you may have. Papaya has anti-amoebic (gastrointestinal infection) and anti-parasitic characteristics. This helps control all your tummy problems from constipation, acid reflux, indigestion, IBS, and stomach ulcers to easing menstrual pain. Papaya seeds are also known to kill off ringworm in your tum!
- Papaya also is a great source of vitamin C,A,E, folate and Beta Carotene. Making papaya an awesome free radical fighter and helping against signs of aging! Maybe if I eat enough papaya I'll look like I'm 12 again? maybe?
- Find out more in-depth papaya health benefits here.
Convinced that you need this papaya banana smoothie in your life? Then maybe the fact that papaya seeds work as a contraceptive for adult male langur monkeys will :)
All jokes aside, this smoothie is straight-up delicious and will keep your tummy happy :)
Papaya Banana Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 heaping cup Papaya 225g
- 1 Banana
- 1 small chunk Ginger fresh, 5g
- 1 tablespoon Lime Juice 20ml
- 1 cup Pineapple fresh, 160g
- 1 cup Crushed Ice 120g
- ¾ cup Dairy-free Milk 150ml (I used almond milk)
Instructions
-
Add all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
For another healthy, delicious smoothie recipe, check out my Kale Spinach Smoothie! Yum!
Cailee says
YUM! This looks amazing! Honestly, I'm like you, not a huge papaya fan... but I'm sure these smoothies are beyond delicious! :) Great recipe!
Harriet Emily says
Oh my!! Now this is one delicious looking smoothie. I love the whole presentation too - the colour of the smoothie, the straws and the glasses all look so beautiful!! I've never really tried papaya before, and I don't know why - but after seeing this smoothie I know that will change. I'm definitely going to have to try this recipe - the ingredients all sound amazing, I love adding ginger and lime to drinks, they're so flavoursome and refreshing! Mmm!!
Natalie @ Feasting on Fruit says
I really can't get over how pretty it is!! Papaya goes so well with lime, and it goes so well with other tropical fruits, and you've gone and put them all in one gorgeous glass and I just want a big sip!!!
I don't post a lot of smoothie recipes either, but my first recipe ever happened to be a smoothie and it is SO, SO embarrassing!! I don't think I will ever link to it...I've considered deleting it from existence ;) lol
The Healthy Apple says
This looks AMAZING, can't wait to try it. Thanks for posting!
Manali @ CookWithManali says
I love papaya as such but never tried it in a smoothie! It looks gorgeous, I need to try this soon!
racheal derrie says
i love the papaya because it help us to grow up
Sara says
I made this is. It tasted fantastic! I'll make it again. Great blend of tropical flavors.
Vanessa Croessmann says
Thanks Sara! I'm so glad you liked it ;)
Chrissie says
Thank you so much for this smoothie!
It's very tasty!
I love it!
Best regards,
Chrissie!
Vanessa Croessmann says
Thank you, Chrissie! So happy you liked it ;)
Tami says
This sounds great! I'm trying it tomorrow morning for sure! We live in Hawaii and eat a lot of papayas. I love them plain, with a squeeze of lime, with vegan yogurt and granola.....but have never loved them in a smoothie. Your recipe sounds great!
I have to say that I've tried papaya in Mexico and Costa Rica and they just aren't very good! There's many varieties, but the Hawaii grown papaya are my fave!
Thanks for the recipe!
Vanessa Croessmann says
Oh yum! I'm so jealous! Papaya can be quite expensive if it isn't local. You're quite lucky to have quality papayas growing locally ;) I hope you had a chance to try the smoothie! It's one of my favorites ;)
Tami Kirk says
I made it! And now I make it probably 4 days a week for my guy and I. It's delicious! I'm really bad at following recipes but this one is so so perfect it doesn't need adjusting! Love it!
Thanks!
Vanessa Croessmann says
That's so great to hear, Tami! You just made my day :)
Courtney says
Made this just now and it was amazing! I love papaya and all the health benefits it contains. I added a scoop of protein powder to this recipe for a little extra benefit and loved it.
Vanessa Croessmann says
Hi Courtney, happy to hear that you liked the papaya banana smoothie! Papaya really do have a load of health benefits that most people forget to take advantage of. I love that you added some protein powder to it as well. I often do that as well ;) Great minds think alike!
Sarah Mwango Kalufyanya says
This is soooo yummy. I love the slight taste of ginger and lime in it. Never used papaya in a smoothie. I will do it again and again.
Vanessa Croessmann says
Thanks Sarah! It is such a good smoothie. I've been buying a lot of papaya lately, cutting it into cubes and then freezing them for quick and easy smoothies :)
Melissa M Gillies says
I loved this smoothie. I was trying to figure what else to do with the papaya as I'm not really a fan and figured smoothies were best way to finish it. I had about 2 cups of papaya left so I kinda doubled the recipe. Thanks so much.
Catherine says
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a refreshing, delicious smoothie that I enjoy making. I also like to add kale, flax seeds, and almond butter to the recipe and I most often use lemon juice instead of lime since that’s what I usually have available. Thanks for sharing your wonderful recipe!