This easy papaya recipe is simply scrumptious with its sweet honey, creamy yogurt and more. It’s healthy and delish!

If you haven’t had papaya, it’s a lovely tropical fruit that’s sweet, juicy, and delightful. It’s not something I grew up eating but discovered at a small little grocery store on the “Big Island” of Hawaii our first time visiting. As we sat on our lanai enjoying the warm gentle breeze and pleasant mountain views, we dug into our papaya and fell in love with this wonderfully nutritious fruit.

In an effort to beat post-vacation blues  upon arriving home to the cold and rainy weather where we lived at the time, I began to incorporate some of the foods we enjoyed on the trip and papaya was no exception. There’s a lot you can do with a papaya, but today I’ll show you a tasty recipe that’s perfect for a healthy, low-calorie breakfast or lunch.

Why You’ll Love this Papaya Recipe

• This papaya recipe is quick and very easy to throw together.
• The sweet papaya and coconut yogurt are a refreshing tropical combination.
• You’ll love the delightful crunch the granola adds to the dish.
• The lime zest makes for both a pretty and tasty garnish.
• It’s healthy and guilt-free!

How to Pick out a Papaya

There are many varieties of papaya and what I see most often in grocery stores in the U.S. are large Mexican (Maradol) papayas or small Hawaiian papayas. Both turn from their unripe green color to a golden/yellow color when ripe. They are also slightly soft when ripe but avoid fruit that is too soft or browning as they may be overdone.

*** On a side note, if you are ever in Hawaii or other places that grow Strawberry papayas, make sure to grab one as they are super sweet and juicy and have an incredible flavor!

What’s in this Papaya Recipe

Papaya – I used half of a large Mexican papaya to serve two. Hawaiian papayas are smaller and a whole papaya serves two.

Yogurt – Light coconut flavored yogurt is my go-to for this dish. I love how well it goes with the papaya.

• Change it up: Vanilla yogurt is another great choice. Pineapple yogurt adds a little bit of sweetness with a hint of tart. Non-dairy yogurt can be used for those of you that are dairy-free.

Honey – I drizzle a small amount of honey over the top for a little added sweetness.

Granola – I use gluten free granola and I love how it adds a nice crunch on top.

• Change it up: Honey roasted or candied pecans or walnuts are a delicious topper as well.

Lime Juice – I mix this in with the yogurt before adding it to the papaya.

Lime Zest – If you haven’t noticed in my other recipes, I love citrus zest for the flavor and because adds so much to the presentation of a dish! I love how the lime pairs with the papaya.

How to make this Papaya Recipe

• First, I cut the papaya in half lengthwise and gently scoop out the seeds. When ripe enough, the papaya is soft and juicy, so I like to do this carefully to avoid scraping out any of the delicious fruit. I’m them left with sort of a papaya “bowl” that’s perfect for holding the rest of the ingredients. 

• Next, I add the yogurt to a medium-sized bowl and squeeze in a little tangy lime juice. I mix the two ingredients together well. 

• Then I add the yogurt mixture to the papaya “bowl.”

• After adding the yogurt, I drizzle some sweet and delicious honey back and forth over the top of the fruit and yogurt.

• Next, I’ll crumble up the granola and sprinkle it on top.

• Then, I’ll top it off with some pretty and tangy lime zest as a garnish. *** If you have an orchid on hand, add one little flower as it makes for a beautiful addition for serving this pretty papaya recipe.

• Finally, I sit down and let this tasty dish transport me back to beautiful, lush Hawaiian views and breezes – YUM!

Making Ahead and Storing Leftovers

This papaya recipe is quick and easy to make fresh, but if you’d like to make it ahead, just leave the granola off until you are ready to eat it, so it doesn’t get soggy and maintains that yummy crunch.

If you can, prepare only what you’ll consume, but leftovers can be stored safely in the fridge for 1-2 days, depending how ripe your fruit is. Keep in mind that the granola likely won’t have that nice crunch, so throw a little extra fresh granola on top when eating the leftovers for optimal enjoyment! 😊

Thank you for taking the time to walk through this quick and easy papaya recipe! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do. Let me know what you think in the comments below.

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