There is a certain hot dog chain in New York City, known for its cheap two-dog specials and something called a “papaya drink.” Most New Yorkers have eaten there, or at one of its many copycats, whether we admit it or not. Ok, I’ll admit it: I like the “papaya drink.” Its mildly tropical sweetness is a really good hot dog complement, and it’s way better than the other drinks on the menu. But the metallic undertone of the original always makes me wonder: what the heck is in this thing?
The Full-Color Papaya smoothie brings all the flavor of the original, without the chemical aftertaste. This is a real, luscious tropical fruit shake, creamy and rich, sweet but not overly so – there’s nothing gray about it. It’s packed with vitamin C, and the enzymes papain (from the papaya) and bromelain (from the pineapple) help digest proteins in the hot dogs (or tofu pups) that go so well with this drink. Make this one for a last-minute cookout, and have your guests bring the dogs: it’s summertime!
Full-Color Papaya Smoothie:
2 cups fresh papaya
1/2 cup fresh pineapple
1 Tbsp coconut milk
3 oz coconut water, frozen into cubes (about 3 cubes)
Juice of 1/2 lime
* Place all ingredients in a blender.
* Blend on high until smooth, pulsing when necessary to liquify.
* Pour into 2 8-oz glasses and enjoy.
*Serving Size: makes 2 8-oz servings.
* 94.3 calories, 1.8 g fat, 1.5 g protein per serving. Full nutritional information here.
