A colorful and nutritious ripe papaya salad for your dinner table tonight!
This vegan papaya salad takes just 10 minutes to prepare without baking or cooking and not even preparing a separate salad dressing.
Just chop the vegetables, mix them, and it’s ready.
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You are going to love this!
The ingredients are as simple as it gets, with ripe papaya being the MVP ingredient.
Ripe papaya gives a sweet note to the salad, and other vegetables like grape tomatoes, avocados, and leafy vegetables like spinach and arugula balance the sweetness of papaya.
A drizzle of lemon juice is all you need to finish it off for a refreshing papaya salad.
With vibrant colors and packed flavors, this salad can be a refreshing and light dinner option after a strenuous workout regime.
Papaya salad can be your side dish or main entree as it makes you fuller. That makes it a perfect option if you are counting calories or working on a low-fat diet.
This papaya salad recipe is vegan, gluten-free, and oil-free.
Ingredients you will need
Red ripe papaya - I used red ripe papaya for this salad. You could go with any kind of papaya as long as it is ripe. The sweeter the papaya, the better.
Arugula and spinach blend - I used organic pre-washed variety. Fresh arugula leaves have a unique kick that can turn on the flavors in your salads. Feel free to use any other types of freshly washed leaves, if you have a different favorite.
Lemon juice - This recipe does not need any dressing. Plain lemon juice is all you need. If you have a favorite dressing, it wouldn’t hurt either. But you really don’t need one because the papaya takes care of it.
Pepper and salt - Black ground pepper enhances the salad flavor with a mild hint of spice. Black salt or pink Himalayan salt brings great flavor.
How to make this salad
Start by peeling the skin of the papaya and removing the seeds. Chop them into little cubes or to your desired shapes. Chop the avocados and grape tomatoes one by one.
Take a big bowl with all the leaves you’d like to use and add the chopped or cubed papaya, avocados, grape tomatoes and add salt and pepper.
At the end squeeze half of the lemon juice. Now gently mix everything. The ripe papaya salad is ready to serve with your main dish or serve it as is as the main course!
Recipe FAQs
Usually, ripe papaya can be stored for 3 days in the refrigerator. I would recommend eating it fresh.
This salad tastes good only if you add ripe papaya salad. Ripe papayas bring not only the sweetness but also the moisture you need as a dressing.
Yes, you can! But I recommend you go by this recipe. You don't need anything other than salt, pepper, and lemon juice!
Expert tips
- Use only ripe papaya for this salad.
- The addition of pomegranate, grapes, or grated carrots will greatly enhance the taste.
- Store this papaya salad in an airtight jar for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
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📖 Recipe
Ripe Papaya Salad
Process Shot
Check above for step-by-step pictures (most of my recipes include pictures)
Ingredients
- 4 cups cubed ripe papaya
- 2 avocados
- 6 oz Spinach Arugula blend
- 16 oz organic grape tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Half lemon juice
- Pink salt for tatse
Instructions
- Start by peeling the skin of the papaya and remove seeds. Chop them into little cubes or to your desired shapes. Chop the avocados, grape tomatoes one by one.
- Take a big bowl with all the leaves you’d like to use and add the chopped or cubed papaya, avocados, grape tomatoes and add salt and pepper.
- At the end squeeze half of the lemon juice. Now gently mix everything. The ripe papaya salad is ready to serve with your main dish or serve it as is as the main course!
Notes
- Use only ripe papaya for this salad.
- The addition of pomegranate, grapes, or grated carrots will greatly enhance the taste.
- Store this papaya salad in an airtight jar for up to 3 days in the refrigerator
YOUR OWN NOTES
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimation only.
Nicole
I love Thai papaya salad using the green variety, but I've never tried a salad using ripe papaya. I especially love that there's no fancy or finicky dressing on this - just fresh lemon juice. I can already imagine how bright and flavourful this salad is.
Loreto and Nicoletta
This salad is so golorful. It makes me feel like spring us just around the corner! Fresh, bright and very healthy, a great light meal!
Ramona
I haven't had papaya in such a long time and I am definitely going to be making this nutritious salad really soon! thank you for sharing this recipe.
Alex
The flavors in this recipe look so unique, and so colorful too! I love arugula and think it's underrated, so I love that you used it here!
Kate
This papaya salad delicious! I love papaya, definitely going to make this!
Linda
I don't use papaya often but, when I do, I don't know why I waited so long. This salad is so unique that it was a great way to surprise the hubby with something different. It was thoroughly enjoyed for a light lunch with a little tuna on top!
Paula Montenegro
I haven't eaten papaya in ages, but love fruit in my salad. This salad plate looks super inviting, especially since it has avocado! Can't wait to try it and add some carrots, as you say in the expert tips. Thanks for sharing!
Kathryn
I love papaya and this is such a great recipe to include it in a salad. I'm so excited to give this recipe a try! Love that it's healthy too:)
veenaazmanov
This Salad is perfect for a light Dinner. Love the healthy combination of ingredients. Simple yet so yummy too eat.
Farrukh Aziz
This salad looks delicious! I think it would make great for a family weekend dinner appetizer! Can't wait to try it out!
kerri
I'm excited to make this for my husband - he LOVES papaya! This looks absolutely delicious!
Uma Raghupathi
Thank you, Kerri. Hope your husband will love this 🙂