Name: Papaya Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ½ fresh Papaya (seeds removed, peeled and cut into 1/2" cubes); 2 cups ripe strawberries (quartered); 1 cup fresh spinach leaves; 1 small cucumber (quartered); 1 large tomato (diced); ¼ red onion (sliced thin); ¼ cup fresh cilantro (chopped); ½ cup feta cheese crumbles; ⅓ cup lemon juice; ¼ cup olive oil; 1 tbsp honey; 2 tsp Dijon Mustard; ancho chili powder (optional, to taste)

Papaya Salad has never tasted better when combined with fresh strawberries, feta cheese, and a light homemade dressing.

The perfect summer lunch idea, this salad recipe is not only refreshing but also brings in all the fresh summer fruits before they pass to a new season.

Why You Will Love Making Summer Salad Recipes

Using Fresh Summer Produce: Bringing in all the best summer has to offer, the sweet taste of strawberries and papaya combined with crisp green spinach leaves is the perfect tangy and sweet combination for poolside lounging.

10-Minute Lunch: Everyone gets sick of PB&J, and this is one of the best summer salad recipes that only takes minutes to combine before you enjoy it!

There’s no need to go out to Panera Bread or your local salad and sandwich shop to get all those fantastic flavors.

FRESH INGREDIENTS

Fresh Summer Fruit: papaya and strawberries
Vegetables: cucumber, tomato, diced red onion, sliced thin
Herbs: chopped fresh cilantro
Dressing – lemon juice, olive oil, honey, dijon mustard, and ancho chili powder.
spinach leaves
Feta cheese

papaya salad with spinach and strawberries.

How to Make Papaya Salad with Strawberries and Feta

Mix well in a mixing bowl with papaya, strawberries, spinach, cucumber, tomato, onion, and cilantro.
In a small bowl, combine lemon juice, olive oil, honey, dijon mustard, and chili powder. Whisk well.
Drizzle on top of the salad and mix well to combine evenly.

combining strawberry and salad dressing.

Serve immediately topped with feta cheese or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Stir well before serving, and top generously with crumbled feta cheese.

Easy Papaya Salad Variations

While feta and strawberries pretty much go together like a perfect marriage, other cheese options that complement this salad combination are goat cheese and blue cheese crumbles.

Switch it up! Try adding blueberries for a splash of savory flavor or grilled chicken for a little protein.

Toppings: Everyone loves a little crunch to their salad, whether sunflower seeds, mini crunchy onions, dried cranberries, raisins, or homemade croutons.

Strawberry and spinach salad recipe also goes great with mint leaves and varying dressings like Poppyseed dressing or champagne vinaigrette.

This creamy grape salad recipe with Greek yogurt is a great dessert salad recipe.
Fresh dill, cucumber, and radishes make a bold, bright salad for a burger side.
If you love strawberries, this strawberry Caprese salad recipe is sweet, savory, and oh-so-delicious.

Papaya isn’t the only summer fruit that can make a salad stand out! Try this Peach Caprese Salad recipe that includes fresh juicy summer peaches.
One of my favorites is this fiesta corn salad recipe with all summer flavors.
Want to test some trending food? Try TikTok Favorite Salad Recipe, Natures Cereal, Summertime Street Corn Dip recipe, or finely diced tiktok Shirazi salad.