Batida de Papaya (Puerto Rican Papaya Shake)
A creamy Puerto Rican-style papaya shake made with ripe fruit, cold milk, vanilla, and ice. Lightly sweetened to taste, this easy batida blends together in minutes for breakfast or an afternoon refreshment.
Equipment
- Blender suitable for crushing ice
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Spoon
- Measuring cups and spoons
- 2 serving glasses
Ingredients
- 2 cups ripe papaya peeled, seeded, and cubed (280 g)
- 1 cup cold whole milk 240 ml
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 12.5 g, optional and adjusted to taste
- 1 cup ice cubes about 140 g
Instructions
- Wash the outside of the papaya under running water before cutting. Cut it in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Remove the peel, cut the flesh into cubes, and measure 2 cups.
- Pour the cold milk into the blender. Add the papaya and vanilla. Blend until the fruit is completely smooth, about 20–30 seconds.
- Taste the mixture. If needed, add up to 1 tablespoon of sugar, starting with 1 teaspoon and increasing gradually. Very ripe papaya may not need added sugar.
- Add the ice and blend again until smooth and creamy, about 20–40 seconds depending on your blender. There should be no large pieces of ice remaining.
- Check the consistency. If the batida is too thick, blend in a little more cold milk, 1 tablespoon at a time. If you prefer it thicker, add a few pieces of frozen ripe papaya.
- Divide between 2 glasses and serve immediately.
Notes
Choose ripe fruit: Look for a papaya that yields slightly to gentle pressure and has a mild, sweet aroma. Skin color varies by variety, so use softness and aroma alongside color. Avoid moldy fruit or fruit with a fermented smell.
Remove the seeds: Papaya seeds have a peppery flavor and are not included in this sweet drink. Remove the peel as well.
Sweetness: Taste before adding sugar. Ripe papaya and milk already contribute natural sweetness.
Frozen fruit option: Replace the fresh papaya with the same weight of frozen ripe papaya. Omit the ice initially, then adjust with a little extra milk as needed. The yield will be smaller without the ice.
Milk options: Lactose-free whole milk works in the same quantity. An unsweetened plant-based beverage can also be used, although flavor, texture, and nutrition will change.
Vanilla: Keep the amount modest so the papaya remains the main flavor.
Serve fresh: The texture and flavor are best immediately after blending. Papaya-and-milk mixtures can change during storage, so prepare only what you plan to drink.
Prep ahead: Keep the milk cold and portion the peeled, seeded fruit separately. Freeze extra papaya cubes for future batches.
Allergens: Contains milk when prepared as written.