This delicious Papaya Milkshake Recipe (Batido de Lechosa) is a fruity and refreshing shake that is very popular in the Dominican Republic and a favorite at my house. It’s the perfect smoothie that everyone will love.
What is Papaya or Lechosa?
Papaya or Lechosa, as it is known in the Dominican Republic, is a tropical fruit from Central America and the Caribbean.
Papaya is a super delicious and very healthy fruit that’s full of nutrition. It’s loaded with antioxidants such as vitamin A, B complex, C, and potassium that can help reduce inflammation, fight disease and help keep you looking young.
There are two groups of papayas known in Australia, red papaya and yellow papaw. While red papaya appears red/orange in color and ripens to yellow upon cutting it, yellow papaw remains an orange/yellow color before and after cutting. A papaya that appears yellow and green in color is the best choice if you’re not looking to use it the same day.
The papaya milkshake (batida de lechosa) is a very popular drink in the Dominican Republic, where the fruit is found in literally every market and vendor’s cart.
This drink brings back beautiful memories from my childhood of when my aunt would make my cousins and me a papaya milkshake to have with cheese sandwiches for a yummy, refreshing, and very filling after-school snack.
Ingredients
- Papaya – Scroll below to find out how to make sure you pick a good papaya.
- Evaporated Milk – If evaporated milk is out of the question, you can substitute with whole milk. You can also use skim milk or almond milk for a lighter option.
- Vanilla Extract – The vanilla is a great added element to your shake for an extra boost of flavor. If vanilla extract is not accessible, you can also opt for some vanilla ice cream.
- Ground Cinnamon – I love using cinnamon in my recipe for the flavor kick that it provides for my taste buds, but if you have an allergy or don’t really like cinnamon, try nutmeg instead!
- Sugar – This is added to further sweeten your shake. However, I understand the need to cut down on sugar for whatever reason. If that’s the case, you can also use honey or stevia as a healthier option. You can also opt for no added sweetener and enjoy as is if you prefer.
- Ice cubes – If your papaya is already frozen in chunks, you may skip this ingredient as needed.
How to Make a Papaya Milkshake?
To prepare this delicious papaya milkshake recipe, peel the papaya and remove the seeds. Cut into cubes. Add the papaya, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and ice into a blender. Mix all until it becomes a smooth, silky consistency. Taste to test and continue to add ingredients accordingly, if you feel it is needed.
This simple recipe is a favorite in my house and a staple in the Dominican Republic. Give it a try and you’ll see why it’s such a popular drink.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the US, you can find papaya in the produce section at the grocery store. It’s fairly easy to select a good papaya. To know if it’s ripe, choose one that has yellow/orange skin. You can also buy a green papaya and this will ripen in a few days if left on your kitchen counter.
A simple technique to also make sure you buy papaya that’s just right is by gently squeezing the fruit and feeling how ripe it is based on its softness. If it’s very soft, it’s perfect to make your milkshake the same day as it’ll definitely be sweet enough for your drink. Although, avoid buying if any spots feel mushy or damaged. On the other hand, if you’re only finding unripe papayas that feel hard when pressing, that just means you’ll have to wait a couple of days longer to use them.
I personally recommend that you go about serving your papaya shake on the spot as it will taste its freshest. However, if you’re short on time and are looking for a way to minimize the process of making your milkshake, I recommend buying your papaya ahead of time and freezing it. This will extend the storage life of the papaya by weeks or months but will also help you skip a step by having it already prepared. To do this properly, make sure you cut your papaya into chunks and place it in a freezer-safe container with enough space in between to avoid the pieces getting stuck together.
I wouldn’t exactly recommend storing your papaya shake for an extended amount of time past 24 hours as it will eventually lose its freshness. The shake will also gel up, which is a situation that can be resolved by blending, but otherwise is not the most convenient. Instead, aim to utilize any leftover papaya and freeze it, as mentioned in the section above.
I would consult your doctor on this as I am not a medical expert. However, the reason why some may refrain from consuming papaya while pregnant is because of its rich source of latex that’s evident in its unripe state. According to Healthline, the latex that is present in papaya, could trigger uterine contractions and induce early labor, and can also trigger allergic reactions.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Save leftover papaya and cut in chunks to store in the freezer to make more later. To ensure that it’s preserved properly, place in a freezer-safe container and keep chunks from touching to avoid them getting stuck to each other.
- When making this papaya milkshake recipe, you may opt for vanilla ice cream, instead of vanilla extract if it’s not accessible. Make sure to blend accordingly.
- You may opt for honey, stevia, or no added sweetener if sugar is not included in your diet.
Other Smoothie Recipes You’ll Love
- Black and White Bourbon Milkshake with Bacon
- Piña Colada Dulce de Leche Smoothie
- Traditional Mamey Smoothie
- Tropical Sunrise Smoothie
- Banana Nutella Milkshake
Papaya Milkshake (Batido de Lechosa)
Author:Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh papaya, peeled, seeded and cubed
- 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
- 4 tablespoons granulated sugar, plus more if needed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1-2 cups ice cubes
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender and mix on high speed until the ice is well blended. Add more sugar if desired and blend for an additional 30 seconds.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Save leftover papaya and cut in chunks to store in the freezer to make more later. To ensure that it’s preserved properly, place in a freezer-safe container and keep chunks from touching to avoid them getting stuck to each other.
- When making this papaya milkshake recipe, you may opt for vanilla ice cream, instead of vanilla extract if it’s not accessible. Make sure to blend accordingly.
- You may opt for honey, stevia, or no added sweetener if sugar is not included in your diet.
Nutrition
The nutritional information of this recipe and all recipes on mydominicankitchen.com is only an estimate. The accuracy of any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Update Notes: This recipe was originally published in March 2015. It was updated in February 2022 with new photos and extra notes and tips.
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Jennifer Nelson says
Yum! I LOVED the “batido de lechozas” when I lived in the DR for awhile many years ago. I have started making my own, but have been using almond milk. Keeps the calories and fat down a bit, but of course it doesn’t taste nearly as creamy and decadent!! I also just guessed at the spice, I thought I tasted nutmeg, so that’s what I used, just a pinch. I still loved it, but I’ll try cinnamon next time. Thanks for setting me straight on some of these ingredients!!
Vanessa says
So glad you loved the recipe! We use cinnamon but nutmeg is definitely another great option some people use.
Yari says
Thank you for the recipe! Very good! Satisfies my pregnancy 🤰 cravings! 🥰❤️😬
Vanessa says
So glad you liked it. Congratulations!
Lisa Barrera says
Great recipe and SOOooooo delicious!! Never had papaya before this drink and my husband now expects it all the time…..
Vanessa says
I’m so happy you and your husband enjoy this recipe! 🙂
Pamela says
This is the exact recipe from when I was in DR! I’ve been searching for it for about two years now! Thank you so much!
Andrea says
Congrats on the job!
This recipe looks delicious. I’ve never worked with papaya before. But I’ll definitely give it a try.
Vanessa says
@Andrea Papaya is a delicious fruit and great for you too, rich in fiber, vitamin C and antioxidants. You must try it. 🙂
melissa says
Oh yum! I think everyone in my family would love this!
Vanessa says
@Melissa You can believe they will for sure.
Deborah Cruz says
This looks delicious. I may have to give it a try with the cheese sandwiches for my girls next week over spring break!
Vanessa says
Please do try it. I’m sure your kids will love it. 🙂
Alicia says
I don’t really like papaya like that but this look really yummy! Congrats on all of your blessings you deserve it!
Vanessa says
Thank you my love. 🙂
Erika says
Que delicioso!!! Wow! I’m definitely going to try this out this week. Looks so yummy and is also healthy. =)