Deliciously Easy papaya juice recipe [Ready In 10 Minutes!]
Today, I want to share with you a simple papaya juice recipe that brings back heartwarming memories and allows me to enjoy the taste of papaya anytime I want. It’s loaded with nutrients and stuffed with a ton of fresh tropical flavors.
There’s something undeniably magical about the taste of a ripe papaya. Its tropical sweetness carries hints of warm summer days and exotic vacations.
Best of all, this papaya juice recipe takes less than 10 minutes to make!
In this blog post, I’ll guide you through the process of this easy-to-make papaya juice recipe, variations you can try, and even how to make it using a cold press juicer.
The Benefits of Papaya juice
Making papaya juice at home? Good call! It’s a healthy drink choice because:
- There’s no fake stuff in it. No weird chemicals or things you can’t pronounce.
- It’s packed with good things like folate and vitamins A and C, which help keep your skin looking great and boost your immune system.
- Papaya juice is great for your tummy. It’s high in fibre, which helps with digestion and can keep things moving if you’re feeling a bit backed up.
- If you’re watching your weight, this juice is a good choice. It’s not heavy on calories and helps your body break down proteins.
So, give homemade papaya juice a go. It’s a tasty way to do something good for your body!
Don’t miss: The 6 awesome benefits of papaya juice
How to Prepare Papaya
Because we aren’t using the papaya for presentation, you can cut it any way that you’d like. I’ve found that this technique is the easiest for juices.
- To start, wash the papaya and make sure there isn’t any debris on the skin. This decreases the risk of cross-contamination.
- Next, remove both ends from the papaya. Proceed to cut it in half and remove the black seeds and excess fibers.
- Once cut, place the papaya on the chopping board, cut side down. Use a sharp peeler to remove the skin.
- Finally, cut the papaya into chunks – the size here doesn’t matter for blending.
How to Prepare The Pineapple
This is arguably the fruit I hate preparing the most, but that’s only because nobody has ever shown me the correct way to do it!
This technique I picked up while exploring local markets in South East Asia. The fruit vendors can prepare their pineapples in less than a minute, which is an amazing sight to behold!
Now, I’m not saying that’s within my capabilities, but the time it now takes me is significantly less than it used to.
To start, slice off the pineapple’s top (spiky leafy head) and tail (bottom).
Place the pineapple standing upright on the chopping board. Make sure it’s stable.
Then, begin to slice off the thick pineapple rind. You will need to take off quite a bit of skin, usually between 5-10mm. Even though it seems like you may remove a lot of pineapple flesh, it’s part of the learning curve. You’ll eventually find the sweet spot.
Once the skin is removed, you can the tip of a small paring knife to remove the eyes. These are the small brown “holes.” While they are edible, they are not appetizing. If you don’t want to spend a ton of time removing them, focus on the biggest ones first.
Once the eyes have been removed, you can cut the pineapple into chunks.
Don’t miss: The best herbs and spices to pair with pineapple!
Deliciously Easy Papaya Juice Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Chopping board
- 1 Knife
- 1 Peeler for the papaya skin
- 1 Spoon
- 1 Blender or juicer
- 1 Sieve Optional – to remove or reduce pulp
- 2 Glasses for serving
Ingredients
- 1 medium ripe papaya cleaned and cubed
- 1 Cup fresh pineapple cleaned and cubed
- 1-2 Tbsp orange juice freshly squeezed (see notes)
- 1/2-1 Cup filtered water to adjust the consistency
- 1-2 Tbsp honey or agave nectar as sweetener – optional
- 1-2 Fresh mint leaves for serving or garnish
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare The Papaya
- Wash and peel the papaya. A peeler works well for this, or you can use a paring knife.1 medium ripe papaya
- Slice the papaya in half and remove the black seeds and fibers with a spoon.
- Chop into chunks and set aside.
Step 2: Prepare The Pineapple
- Cut off the spiky head and a small section at the base of the pineapple.1 Cup fresh pineapple
- Remove the thick, spiky rind and the larger 'eyes'.
- Cut into chunks.
Step 3: Squeeze Orange Juice
- If you are using a cold-press juicer (instructions below), you don't need to squeeze the orange juice seperately.1-2 Tbsp orange juice
Step 4: Blend The Ingredients
- Add the papaya, pineapple, and orange juice to your blender.
- Blend until you have a smooth, uniform liquid.
Step 5: Adjust The Consistency
- Optional: strain the blended ingredients using a regular kitchen sieve. This technique separates the pulp from the juice. If you like, you can add some pulp back into the juice. This step is mostly for people who don't like pulp.
- Next, you can also adjust the consistency of your papaya juice. Add some filtered water to thin the juice and dilute the flavor a little. This step is completely optional, but I’ve found that many people prefer it.1/2-1 Cup filtered water
Step 6: Adjust The Sweetness
- You can add a little bit of honey (or alternative sweetener) to your liking. This juice is naturally sweet so don’t overdo it.1-2 Tbsp honey or agave nectar
Step 7: Serve Your Papaya Juice Immediately
- Serve your deliciously easy papaya juice in large glasses. Garnish with some mint for an extra touch of sweetness.1-2 Fresh mint leaves
- If you want to store this juice, make sure to do so in an airtight glass jug. Like most homemade juices, it will only last a couple of hours – a day at best!
Notes
- Always choose a ripe papaya for making juices. It will have the best flavor and bright inviting color. A ripe papaya is characterized by its vibrant yellow or orange skin. When gently pressed, it yields slightly, indicating it has soft, juicy flesh. Inside, it reveals sweet, fragrant, and orange-colored pulp dotted with small, edible black seeds.
- If you have leftover pineapple, freeze it for later use. This can be for smoothies, juices, or ice creams!
- Adjust the sweetness of your papaya pineapple juice after adjusting the consistency. Straining the juice and adding filtered water will weaken the effects of the honey, just wasting it at the end of the day.
- The calorie count includes 1 tblsp of orange and 1 tblsp of honey. It is per serve (this recipe will make enough for two serves)
Variations:
- First, you can use frozen or canned pineapple. However, I always prefer using fresh fruits because they are stuffed with nutrients and have the best flavors.
- The same goes for the orange juice. You can buy some premade orange juice if you’d like. Try getting “freshly squeezed” instead of processed. But even better yet, juice a fresh orange at home.
- If you use a cold-press juicer, just add the orange to the juicer instead of juicing it first. Saves time!
- Instead of honey, you can use other sweeteners instead. Try agave nectar, molasses, or maple syrup for a vegan option.
Nutrition
Tips and Tricks For The Perfect Papaya Juice
Papaya
Always choose a beautiful, ripe papaya for making your homemade papaya juice recipe. It will have the best flavor! Here are some tips for finding the perfect fruit.
First, check its skin. It should be mostly yellow or orange. Give it a little squeeze – if it’s a bit soft, that’s a good sign. Have a sniff: If it smells sweet near the stem, it’s good to go!
You’ll find sweet, orange fruit inside when you cut it open. There are also little black seeds; you can eat them if you want, but many people skip them.
Pineapple
Got some pineapple you didn’t finish? Don’t let it go to waste! If you can’t eat it right away, pop it into the freezer. Before you freeze it, cut the pineapple into chunks or slices. This way, you can easily grab the amount you need later on.
Frozen pineapple is perfect for a lot of things. Toss it into a blender for a refreshing smoothie – it adds a natural sweetness and icy thickness. Or, use it as a base for fresh juices, blending it with other fruits or even some greens for a nutritious drink.
Consider stirring the frozen pieces into homemade ice creams or sorbets if you’re in the mood for a treat. The cold pineapple chunks can also be a zesty addition to fruit salads or desserts, giving them a cool, tropical twist.
Consistency and Sweetness
Papaya juice can be quite thick. You might love this! If not, it’s super easy to adjust the consistency of your papaya juice recipe with filtered water or more orange juice.
I recommend adjusting the consistency before adjusting the sweetness. Adding water or orange juice can change the flavor, which could change the amount of sweetener you’d like to add.
Another reason is that you’ll waste the honey (or other sweetener) by diluting it. And, you might find you need no sweetener at all – this juice is naturally sweet!
How To Make This Papaya Juice Recipe In A Juicer
I am obsessed with my cold press juicer. Even though most people prefer using a blender (just because it’s a more versatile appliance to have in the kitchen), a cold press juicer naturally yields a more nutritious and flavorful end product.
- First, set up your juicer. This setup will vary depending on the model you have. Place a container or jug at the “juice end” and the “pulp end.” If you’d like, place a sieve over the “juice end’s” jug to strain it as it comes out.
- Add your orange, papaya, and pineapple chunks to the juicer jug. Then, switch it on and wait for the magic to happen.
- Next, add the filtered water and honey. Taste the juice first to make sure these ingredients are needed. They will adjust the consistency and flavor of the juice.
- Finally, serve your fresh homemade papaya juice to your liking.
Variations For This Papaya Juice Recipe
This recipe has many variations, which is why I love it so much.
First, you can use frozen or canned pineapple. However, I always prefer using fresh fruits because they are stuffed with nutrients and have the best flavors.
The same goes for the orange juice. You can buy some premade orange juice if you’d like. Try getting “freshly squeezed” instead of processed.
Instead of honey, you can use other sweeteners instead. Try agave nectar, molasses, or maple syrup for a vegan option.
Enjoy your deliciously easy papaya juice recipe!