papaya bowls

T O O T  TOOT! Yea… that’s me tootin’ my own horn. What can I say?…these PAPAYA BOATS are  everything! So perfect for the sweet summertime. Luxurious ripe papaya filled with creamy coconut yogurt, topped with crunchy slivers of almonds, crisp cherries, and a sprinkle of chia seeds. Major breakfast or afternoon delight. So simple, refreshing, nutritious, and flavorful.

I usually purchase Forager Project Cashewgurt at around $1.99 for a single serve, however for these papaya boats I prefer a thicker yogurt that can really hold the heavy cherries and slivered almonds. For this I prefer either Anita’s Coconut Yogurt or Kite Hill Greek Style Almond Yogurt (or you could of course make your own cashew or coconut yogurt). IMO, Anita’s is the way to go. A bit of a splurge at around $3.60 a serving, but SO WORTH IT. Absolutely perfect dished up here as it’s consistency is that of a thick greek-yogurt with no added sugar, additives, or preservatives. Also, I prefer purchasing the yogurt PLAIN so I can add my own sweetener and flavors. Vanilla is the second best option for doing this.

I am usually able to whip this up in less than 10 minutes and really feels like such a treat! All you have to do is slice the papaya in half. Using a spoon, remove the papaya seeds. [Maybe eat a spoonful of the papaya seeds to experience their digestive benefits. Warning, they taste like spicy black pepper – kinda cool tho!] Swirl a little almond extract and maple syrup into the yogurt, dollop the creamy goodness into the papaya boat, and top with fresh cherries, slivered almonds, and chia seeds. ENJOY!

A few health benefits:

PAPAYA – Great for the skin & digestion.

COCONUT YOGURT – Rich in probiotics & potassium.

CHERRIES – Great source of fiber & vitamins.

ALMONDS – High quality protein & antioxidants.

CHIA SEEDS – Good source of omega-3’s & iron.