Avocado-Papaya Salad with Papaya Seed Dressing Recipe

ingredients

1 pound Mexican papaya, ripe but still firm
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
3 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon sweet Spanish paprika (pimenton dulce)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon toasted ground cumin seeds
2/3 cup mild olive oil
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 cups baby mache, field greens, or butter lettuce, torn
2 avocados, pits removed and skin removed, sliced
2 tablespoons toasted hazelnuts or pecans, coarsely chopped

directions

Cut papaya in half lengthwise. Remove seeds, reserving 2 tablespoons for the dressing. Cut the papaya halves in quarters. Holding firmly on cutting board, run a thin knife between the fruit and the skin to separate. Cut the fruit crosswise into 1/4-inch slices. Set aside or refrigerate.

Place the the papaya seeds, lime juice, rice vinegar, honey, paprika, salt and cumin in a blender. Blend, slowly adding the olive oil, until smooth and thickened. There will be little black flecks from the seeds.

To serve, dress the greens with a couple of tablespoons of dressing. Place in center of individual salad plates. Alternate slices of papaya and avocado across the greens. Sprinkle on a few toasted nuts. Drizzle on more dressing, about 1 tablespoon more per plate. Grind on some fresh pepper. Pass the remaining dressing in a pitcher at the table.

Recipe Source: Adapted from a recipe in "Big Small Plates," by Cindy Pawlcyn with Pablo Jacinto and Erasto Jacinto

nutrition data

580 calories, 54 grams fat, 27 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams protein per serving.

reviews & comments

Guest Foodie REVIEW:
May 31, 2010

Nice, zippy, fresh taste. I had already gotten rid of the seeds when I read the recipe so I did not use them.
Guest Foodie REVIEW:
February 15, 2009

Love, love, love it! This is absolutely one of my favorite salads. I used to work at the restaurant that serves this salad (Cindy's in St Helena) & have been recreating it by memory for several years - thanks for the recipe! Try it, you'll say thank you!