Last year I experimented with vegetables in my smoothies more (and I still probably will a bit this year as well).  This year I’ve decided to experiment with new, slightly more exotic fruits.  First up is papaya.  I’d never actually had papaya before this, so I wasn’t even really sure what it tasted like, but I figured since it’s a tropical fruit it’d be yummy.  Papayas aren’t really that hard to find, you can usually find them in the produce department of most grocery stores (at least in my neck of the woods) there just isn’t always a huge selection of them.  Unfortunately, not knowing much about papayas I don’t think I let mine ripen enough before use.  If you’re going to try out this recipe, make sure the skin on your papaya is more yellow than green.  While yummy, I will note that this smoothie may not be for everyone, because the papaya takes on a bit of a gelatinous texture when blended that some people may find unpleasant.  I didn’t mind it though.  You may also be able to negate this a bit by adding more liquid.

What you’ll need

Papaya Smoothie:

• ½ of a papaya, skin and seeds removed
• 6 ice cubes
• ¼ cup almond or coconut milk
• ¼ cup mango or orange juice
• Dash of cayenne pepper (optional)
• Salt to taste
• Sugar to taste

Combine the first 4 ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.  Add salt, sugar and cayenne pepper (if using) and blend to combine.  Taste and adjust salt and sugar as necessary.  Pour into a tall glass and enjoy!