These papaya shakes taste like milkshakes but are quite healthy! This is an authentic Dominican papaya shake recipe (batida de lechosa) which can be enjoyed for breakfast, dessert, or as a snack.
½ripe papaya(about 2 rounded cups of diced papaya, see notes)
1.5cupsice cubes
1.5cupsmilk(any kind - whole milk is tastiest, but low fat, skim, or vegan milk alternatives are great too!)
1tablespoonsugaror honey, or agave (optional)
1tablespoonrum(optional)
Instructions
Slice the papaya in half. Scoop out the papaya seeds with a spoon. Peel the papaya and chop it into rough pieces about 2 inches each (You should have about 2 rounded cups of papaya).
Combine all the ingredients in a large blender in the order listed in the ingredients section. Blend until smooth. Add more sugar and/or milk, if desired. Enjoy immediately. (See notes for enjoying leftovers)
Notes
I use ½ of a medium papaya for this recipe (2 lb papaya, or about a 8-9 inch papaya). Half a papaya is about 2 very rounded cups of papaya.
For a SUPER DELICIOUS papaya shake, use whole milk. For a healthier lighter version (which still tastes great), use low fat or skim milk, or almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk.
For a SUPER DELICIOUS VEGAN papaya shake, use a combination of 1:1 coconut milk from a can and lighter coconut milk or other plant-based milk alternative. The richness of canned coconut milk is amazing.
Sugar is totally optional in this recipe but really makes this papaya shake taste like a milkshake instead of a smoothie. You can use a natural sweetener such as honey or agave syrup instead, of skip the sweetener altogether.
Rum gives this papaya shake an amazing flavor. 1 tablespoon is less than 1 shot of rum so it's not enough to get anyone tipsy, but it just adds a little something something to this recipe. Try it, if drink alcohol! Any rum will work (white, dark, spiced), but coconut rum is absolutely amazing in this recipe.
To store leftovers: place the papaya shake in a mason jar or glass in the fridge. Papaya gels a bit over time and gets a chunky texture, so just re-blend it in a blender again before serving to make it smooth again. No need to add more ice!