Description
This Thai-inspired green papaya salad is a vibrant, healthy, and tangy dish, offering a refreshing crunch perfect as a side or light meal. It brings bustling street market flavors to your kitchen, often enjoyed on busy weeknights for a satisfying yet light option.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 medium (600 g) green papaya
- 1 cup (150 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 0.5 cup (60 g) fresh green beans, trimmed
- 0.25 cup (30 g) roasted peanuts, unsalted
- 1–3 Thai bird’s eye chilies, fresh, to taste
- 2–3 large garlic cloves, minced
- 2–3 fresh limes (0.25 cup juice)
- 3–4 Tbsp fish sauce
- 1–2 Tbsp palm sugar, grated or finely chopped
Instructions
- Prep Your Veggies: Peel the green papaya, then shred it into thin strips using a julienne peeler or a sharp knife. Halve cherry tomatoes and trim the ends off the fresh green beans. Mince the garlic and chilies (start with just one chili for a mild version).
- Build the Dressing in the Mortar: Add the minced garlic and chilies to a large, sturdy mortar and pestle. Pound them lightly for about 30 seconds. Next, add the green beans and pound gently for about 1 minute until they are slightly bruised but not mushy. Stir in the fish sauce, finely chopped palm sugar, and fresh lime juice. Continue to pound and stir until the palm sugar fully dissolves.
- The Mortar Toss Magic: Transfer the shredded papaya and cherry tomatoes into the mortar. Using the pestle and a large spoon, gently toss and bruise the salad ingredients. The goal is to lightly crush them, allowing them to absorb the dressing without becoming soggy.
- Taste and Adjust: Taste and adjust the dressing to your preference. Add extra palm sugar, lime juice, or chilies as needed. Finally, stir in the roasted peanuts for that essential textural contrast.
Notes
Avoid over-pounding the ingredients to maintain crispness; the goal is to bruise, not mush. For a vegetarian option, use tamari or a plant-based fish sauce. Adjust the spice level by adding more or fewer chilies. Use fresh lime juice and firm, unblemished green papaya for the best flavor and texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mortar Tossing
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (150 g)
- Calories: 180 calories
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: Thai salad, green papaya, healthy, side dish, mortar toss, spicy, fresh, vegetarian option, quick meal, street food