Papaya Bowl with Coconut Chia Pudding, Fruits and Granola
Sometimes the most beautiful dishes are the simplest ones. I had this gorgeous papaya bowl at the Hau Tree restaurant in Honolulu, right on Kaimana Beach. It was my birthday breakfast, and there was even a Hawaiian monk seal lounging on the beach in front of us - one of those perfect Hawaii moments. Recently when I was missing Hawaii, I knew I had to recreate it at home.
This is the kind of dish that could easily be served at a high-end restaurant or become the star of your family brunch. The presentation is stunning, but it's really just chia pudding, fresh fruit, and granola served in nature's perfect bowl.
Why I Love This Recipe
The papaya acts as both bowl and ingredient, adding natural sweetness and that tropical flavor. The contrast of textures - creamy chia pudding, crunchy granola, soft fruit - makes every bite interesting. Plus, it's naturally gluten-free, vegan and packed with nutrients.
It's also completely customizable based on what fruit you have on hand. The version I made uses strawberries, blueberries, and banana, but mango, kiwi, or passion fruit would be amazing too.
The Nutrition Breakdown
This papaya bowl isn't just beautiful - it's packed with nutrients that make it a perfect healthy breakfast or snack.
Papaya is loaded with vitamin C (more than oranges!), vitamin A, and digestive enzymes that help your body process food. It's also naturally sweet and low in calories. I heard long ago that papaya is good for the prostate so I make sure all of the men in my life are eating it.
Chia pudding brings plant-based protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber that keeps you full. The chia seeds also add calcium and magnesium. Right now, I am trying to focus on my protein intake and chia pudding is a great alternative when eggs just don't sound good anymore.
Fresh berries are antioxidant powerhouses. Berries of all kinds are definitely my favorite fruit. Blueberries support brain health, while strawberries add even more vitamin C and natural sweetness. Use what you have on hand or experiment with a different options.
Bananas are just the worlds best portable snack. They provide potassium for heart health and natural sugars for quick energy - perfect for starting your day.
Granola adds healthy fats and protein (depending on your choice), plus is great for a satisfying crunch that makes this feel like a real treat.
Honey. Another superfood.
Together, you're getting a good balance of protein, healthy fats, fiber, and natural sugars that will keep you satisfied without the crash you'd get from hearty breakfast like waffles and bacon.
What You Need
- 1 large ripe papaya, halved and seeded
- Prepared chia pudding (I link to my [existing chia pudding recipes] below)
- Fresh granola
- Fresh fruit of your choice (strawberries, blueberries, banana work perfectly)
- Honey for drizzling
Putting It Together
The chia pudding should be made the day before to give it enough time to set. I like my recipe, because it is easy and vegan.
You want to choose a papaya that is ripe but still firm enough to hold its shape once it is cut in half. Also, think about size. Choose a papaya based on the size you want to make your papaya bowls. Cut your papaya in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. I score the inside of each bowl to make it easier to get the papaya out. I also squeezed a little lime juice.
Any granola could work. However, I wanted granola that wouldn't overpower the flavors of the fruit. I always have homemade granola on hand (made with this recipe) but you can always just use store bought granola.
The next step is just to fill each bowl with chia pudding and top it with the fruits and granola of your choice. Drizzle a bit of honey on it before serving.
It really is super easy and will wow your friends.
Papaya Bowl with Coconut Chia Pudding and Fruits
Ingredients
Chia Pudding
- 1 can coconut milk full fat
- ⅓ cup chia seeds
- 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
Granola
- ½ cup homemade cashew butter
- ▢⅓ cup maple syrup
- ▢½ cup olive oil
- ▢3 cups of oats
- ▢1 cup of walnuts
- ▢½ cup green pumpkin seeds pepitas
- ▢½ cup sliced almonds
- ▢½ cup unsweetened coconut
- ▢1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ▢1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ▢½ teaspoon kosher salt with another ½ saved for the end
- ▢2 teaspoons turbinado sugar
Putting it All Together
- 1 banana sliced
- ½ cup blueberries
- ½ cup strawberries sliced
- 1 Tablespoon honey
Instructions
Chia Pudding
- In a small bowl, mix the maple syrup with the coconut milk, add the chia seeds.
- Stir well and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
Granola
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
- Combine the oats, nuts, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, coconut, and salt in a large bowl.
- In another bowl, combine the cashew butter, vanilla, oil, and maple syrup. Mix well.
- Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients and using a wooden spoon or spatula to combine. You want all of the dry ingredients to get a bit moistened.
- Spread on one or two baking sheets---trying to really give all of the pieces some room.
- Bake for about 20 minutes. Pull out the baking sheets and toss around the granola.
- Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes. Check every five minutes as it gets later in the cook time to make sure things aren't burning.
- Once you pull the granola out of the oven, sprinkle with the turbinado sugar and the other ½ teaspoon of the kosher salt. Gently toss them together.
- Let cool completely and store in a air tight container for up to a week (if it lasts that long).
Putting it Altogether
- Cut your papaya in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds.
- Fill each papaya half with your prepared chia pudding.
- Arrange your fresh fruit on top.
- Sprinkle granola over everything and add a light drizzle of honey if you want extra sweetness.
