Today I will show you how to make this delicious papaya strawberry smoothie from scratch. It is super easy, very quick, and extremely versatile. I’ve included a list of variations you can try for this recipe.
If you enjoy this smoothie, then don’t forget to check out some of my other healthy recipes. The Banana Oatmeal Smoothie as well as the Mango Pineapple Smoothie, are amongst the readers’ favorites!
What Do You Need To Make This Papaya Strawberry Smoothie?
This smoothie recipe is one of my favorites. It is loaded with all-natural flavors, packed with a ton of nutrients, and is very customizable. And, like most of my smoothie recipes, it is very quick and easy to make.
So, what do you need for this strawberry papaya smoothie? First, you will need the fruit. Always try to use fresh strawberries and papaya. They contain the most nutrients and have the best flavor. Make sure that they are ripe (not over or under-ripe).
If you have to, you can use prepared frozen fruit as well. I love to cut all of my fruits for smoothies in advance and freeze them for later. It makes the process so much quicker in the mornings.
Then, I’ve also added some vanilla extract to the recipe. This is entirely optional, but it does add a lovely flavor to the fruit mixture.
And finally, you will also need some almond milk. I decided to add almond milk because it is a vegan alternative as well as a dairy-free milk substitute.
You can use any milk or plant-based milk that you’d like. If you are calorie-counting, consider how the alternatives will affect the final count.
And that’s really all that you need! As I’ve said, this recipe is extremely easy to make and doesn’t require many ingredients.
Let’s look at some variations I like to apply to this papaya strawberry smoothie.
Variations For This Fresh Papaya Strawberry Smoothie Recipe
There are some other fruits that you can add to this recipe. They will add some additional nutrients, they can help develop a new unique flavor profile, and they can help make the smoothie much more hearty if you like it that way.
The best and easiest addition is banana. Always choose a ripe banana for the best flavor.
You can also incorporate some pineapples, mangoes, canteloupe, oranges (or juice), blueberries, and peaches. As you can see, the list is quite broad. But that’s great because it means that you can create new smoothies every day of the week!
Then there are also some other non-fruit additions you can try. Naturally, yogurt is an extremely common smoothie addition. It will create a much creamier and thicker smoothie. You can also check out these vegan yogurt options.
Coconut milk and oat milk are all great non-dairy substitutes you can try instead of almond milk.
And finally, for some added natural flavors, you can incorporate mint leaves directly into the smoothie or as a garnish, like we did today. Honey is also a natural sweetener that pairs well with papaya and strawberries.
Tips And Tricks For Making My Delicious Nutrient-Dense Papaya Strawberry Smoothie
- Any leftover fruit can be stored for later use. If you are planning on making another smoothie within a day or two, you can store it inside the fridge in an airtight container. But, if you want to keep the fresh-cut fruit for longer, it is best to leave them inside the freezer for up to 3 months.
- If you don’t have a blender, you can also make this papaya strawberry smoothie in a food processor.
- To adjust the consistency or texture of the smoothie, you can strain it through a fine-mesh sieve. Do this before adding the ice and mint. Once the smoothie has been strained, you can add the pulp back into the liquid to adjust the consistency to your liking.
FAQs
Is it healthy to drink smoothies every day?
There is nothing wrong with having a smoothie every day. That’s like saying you shouldn’t eat a variety of fruits every day! However, where it gets very unhealthy is if those smoothies contain a ton of high-calorie ingredients and added sugars.
I have found that the less sugar you take in, the less sweetness you can handle. So, in the beginning, a smoothie like this won’t be sweet enough for you. But after a couple of days, it will become almost too sweet!
Smoothies are loaded with vitamins and minerals that are essential for your body. And depending on the ingredients used can be a great way to promote healthy bowel movements.
What should you not put in a smoothie?
There are a couple of ingredients you should stay away from to make your smoothie as healthy as possible. That obviously applies to this papaya strawberry smoothie as well.
Some no-go ingredients include fruit juice, ice cream, frozen yogurt, added sweeteners, and canned fruit. All are loaded with sugars (and other chemical additives) that will make the smoothie extremely unhealthy!
More Refreshing Smoothies
A Quick And Healthy Papaya Strawberry Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups papaya
- 1 ½ cups strawberries
- 1 cup almond milk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract, optional
- 1 cup ice
- Fresh mint leaves, washed, for garnish
Instructions
Prepare the ingredients
- Peel the entire papaya using a vegetable peeler or a sharp small paring knife.
- Once peeled, slice it open and remove all the seeds inside. The seeds are not edible.
- Cut the papaya into bite-sized chunks. Pour 1 1/2 cups into the blender.
- Next, wash the strawberries well. Then, remove their green tops and stems.
- Slice the strawberries and place 1 1/2 cups inside the blender.
Make the smoothie
- Once your fruit has been cut and added to the blender, you can add the remaining ingredients.
- Add the almond milk and vanilla extract to the blender.
- Pulse the ingredients at a low speed for about 2 minutes.
- Once you have a uniform smoothie mixture, add the ice cubes and allow them to pulse again for a few seconds.
- Finally, serve your smoothie immediately in a chilled glass. You can garnish it with some fresh mint leaves if you'd like to.
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