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Batido de lechosa
Batido de lechosa: ripe papaya blended with fresh orange juice and a squeeze of lime for breakfast
Lechosa is what Venezuelans call papaya, and on breakfast tables from Valencia to Puerto La Cruz it turns up as a batido beside arepas or empanadas, often blended with the oranges that are piled cheap in every market. It is thick, smooth and sunset-orange, tasting of honeyed papaya and bright citrus, and it fills you up until lunch. Some families blend it with milk instead of juice, which turns it into a creamy merengada. The common mistake with milk is letting it stand: papaya's natural enzyme starts to turn milk bitter within half an hour, so drink it straight away. Another mistake is scraping the seed cavity too hard; the black seeds and their slippery coating make the batido bitter and peppery. It is ready when there are no fibres left, it pours in a thick stream and the colour is an even orange. Choose papaya that is mostly yellow-orange and gives slightly under your thumb; a green-streaked one tastes flat and a little musky. Chef's tip: a few drops of lime juice cut through papaya's musky note and make it taste fresher.
- Total time
- 5 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 3
Ingredients
For the batido
- 14 oz ripe papayapeeled and seeded
- 1 ¼ cups freshly squeezed orange juiceor cold milk for the creamier, non-vegan version
- 1 tsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp white sugarto taste
- 8 ice cubes
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
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Method
0/3 doneStep 1: Halve 14 oz ripe papaya, scoop out the seeds and gently scrape away the shiny membrane, then cut the flesh into chunks.
2 minStep 2: Put the papaya in a blender with 1 ¼ cups freshly squeezed orange juice, 1 tsp lime juice, 1 tbsp white sugar and 8 ice cubes.
1 minStep 3: Blend on high for about 45 seconds until completely smooth and evenly orange. Taste, adjust the sugar and serve immediately.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 120 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 28 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does batido de lechosa take?
- About 5 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 3 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of freshly squeezed orange juice?
- Mandarin or pineapple juice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of lime juice?
- Lemon juice, same amount.
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Spanish