C – Papayas are one of the most versatile fruits around.
Southeast Asians use them to make salads when they’re green. Ripe papayas are great tasting, with a lot of nutritional benefits. One of the most surprising things you can do when the fruit is ripe is use the peels and seeds.
Some people pickle the peels and use it as a relish. It’s fruity and it is surprisingly delicious. The seeds can be blended up and added to a dressing or tossed into smoothies.
Why would you even want to consider using papaya seeds in a salad dressing? Because it’s really healthy.
Papaya promotes digestion, is an anti-inflammatory and helps supports the immune system. The seeds help with keep your digestive track moving well.
Healthy is good, but how does it taste? The seeds are a little peppery. Mixing the seeds with mustard and some white balsamic vinegar makes this dressing great.
It’s different than tasting than any fruit vinaigrette I have had. It’s fruity, yet peppery. We added some papaya to the salad. It was the perfect combination.
Sweet ripe papaya with this amazing salad. With the addition of peppery arugula, some walnuts and salty Parmesan cheese, this salad we perfect. Super healthy and delicious.
| Salad Week 2016: Papaya Arugula Salad with Papaya Seed Vinaigrette |
- ¼ large papaya, with seeds
- ½ small shallot, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 Tbsp white balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil or grapeseed oil
- 1 cup baby Arugula
- ¼ red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup toasted walnuts
- Shaved Parmesan cheese
- Scrape papaya seeds from papaya and place seeds into food processor.
- Add shallot, mustard, white balsamic vinegar, a pinch of salt and pepper and oil into food processor. Blend for 30 seconds to a minute, or until all the ingredients have combined. Remove from food processor and set aside.
- Using a melon baller create balls from the papaya or just cut the papaya into small bite sized pieces.
- Place arugula into a serving plate.
- Drizzle the dressing over top.
- Place the onions and papaya over top.
- Top with toasted walnuts and Parmesan cheese. Drizzle more dressing over top.
- Serve.
- Enjoy.
If you ever have fresh papaya laying around, use up the seeds to make a vinaigrette. Throw it on a salad with some of the papaya. Keep the peel to slice up and make a relish.
You aren’t going to waste any of this fruit.