Papaya Salad: Quick And Delicious Recipe
Papaya is a common ingredient in smoothies and juices. Although thanks to its sweet and fresh flavor it blends perfectly with the salty ones. Therefore, it is an ideal candidate to prepare a papaya salad with the variants that are presented in the following article.
Salads are typical of summer because they are light and refreshing options. However, they are a perfect first course or accompaniment at any time, as it is a good way to increase the consumption of vegetables and fruits.
Adding papaya in the salad allows to increase the presence of many nutrients, since it stands out in vitamin C, pro vitamin A, folic acid and fiber. In addition, it is very light and contains enzymes that facilitate digestion.
Option 1: papaya salad with feta cheese and hearts of palm
An excellent combination of sweet and savory ingredients that prepares in a few minutes and is a perfect starter for a lunch or dinner.
Ingredients to prepare 2 servings
- Lettuce or mixed greens in sufficient quantity for 2.
- 1/4 of fresh papaya.
- 1 small pot of hearts of palm.
- 100 grams of feta cheese.
- 1 handful of roasted peanuts.
- Extra virgin olive oil and salt.
Step by Step
- First, prepare the peanuts if they have not been roasted. It can be done at home, either in the oven at 180ºC or in a frying pan. Leave in the fire until they acquire a golden color and then reserve.
- Next, put the mixed leaves in a bowl or in the same plates in which the papaya salad will be served. For this recipe it is good to choose lettuce leaves, arugula, endive, watercress or a mixture.
- Cut the cheese and palm hearts into cubes and also peel and cut the papaya.
- Then, spread over the lettuce and dress with a good drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt. Be careful with the latter, as the feta cheese is quite strong.
- To finish the dish, decorate with the slightly chopped peanuts.
The ingredients can be changed if you have other preferences. The feta cheese is replaced by blue cheese or goat cheese, which also combines very well. In the dressing you can add Modena vinegar to give a more powerful flavor.
Option 2: papaya salad with avocado and ham
Another possibility to prepare a papaya salad is to combine it with avocado, a creamy and smooth tropical fruit.
Ingredients needed to cook 4 servings
- 1 large bag of mixed salad or fresh lettuce enough for 4 people.
- 270 grams of avocado.
- 1 Dutch type cucumber.
- 300 grams of papaya.
- 1/2 purple onion.
- 30 grams of Manchego cheese.
- 4 tablespoons of ham cut into cubes.
- 1 handful of walnuts.
- Extra virgin olive oil, sherry vinegar and salt for dressing.
Preparation method
- The first step is to arrange all the ingredients, starting by washing, peeling and cutting the onion into fine julienne strips.
- Wash and cut the cucumber into very thin slices; if necessary, with the help of a mandolin.
- Peel and dice the papaya and avocado. The latter can be left for the last minute or sprinkled with a little lemon to prevent it from rusting.
- Cut the cheese into slices with a vegetable peeler and prepare the ham. If it is not possible to buy it already cut into cubes, it can also be used in slices.
- Then prepare the vinaigrette with the proportion of oil, vinegar and salt to taste. At the last minute, mix all the ingredients in a bowl and season generously.
- To prepare more colorful dishes, arrange the ingredients in layers: first the cucumber as a carpaccio , followed by a layer of green leaves. Next the onion, avocado and papaya. Decorate with the rest. At the end, season and serve.
Option 3: papaya and spinach salad
The secret of this last recipe is, without a doubt, in the dressing: an ideal combination of ingredients to combine with spinach and papaya.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil.
- 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce.
- 2 tablespoons of honey.
- 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- 1 teaspoon mild curry powder.
- 600 grams of papaya.
- 300 grams of fresh spinach leaves.
- 1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds.
Steps to follow in the kitchen
- The first task to do is to prepare the vinaigrette. To do this, place the cup of oil, soy sauce, honey, vinegar and curry in a blender glass . Then, beat well to emulsify all the ingredients.
- Then add salt and pepper to taste and put the dressing in a bowl.
- Wash and dry the spinach leaves and cut a little if they are too big. Peel and dice the papaya. Add them to the bowl with the sauce and mix well.
- At the last minute, toast the pumpkin seeds in a pan for a few minutes and carefully not to burn them. Sprinkle over salad to garnish.
Other recommendations to prepare an easy and delicious papaya salad
The key to preparing tasty and nutritious salads is choosing your ingredients well. That is why it is better to select the papaya at its point: neither too hard nor too soft and with an intense orange color.
Once at home it is preferable to keep it at room temperature, as it matures better and the cold can spoil it. Although once cut it is advisable to store in the refrigerator.
Make a longitudinal cut and turn the papaya halves upside down. Then, removing the skin with the help of a peeler and cutting the meat into wedges lengthwise to remove the seeds will be more practical.
Although these seeds are edible and have properties, it should be done in moderation. Once separated, make the cuts for the recipe.
When it comes to cooking salads, it is always desirable to prepare them at the moment. But to save a little time, some preparations can be advanced, such as cutting the cheese or papaya and having the green leaves clean.
