Thai Papaya Salad

This wonderful authentic Thai recipe I sourced whilst holidaying in Thailand. One of my favorite salads, perfect to enjoy in the tropical heat of their fabulous summers. Ah happy memories of travel. This is why I love ‘travel’ food recipes, as such delicious combinations always capture the essence of the country you are visiting.

15 minutes

NONE

Ingredients

1 large green papaya
2 cloves garlic
2-3 red chillies

- with seeds
2 long Thai green beans

- cut into finger sized strips
2 tsp palm sugar
1-2 whole limes

- quartered
Handful of salted peanuts
4-6 cherry tomatoes

- halved
Approximately 2 tbsp fish sauce
Garnish
Cashew nuts
Peanuts
Dried prawns
Extra vegetables green beans and hard white cabbage

Instructions

Prepare the papaya:
01 Peel and remove pips. Grate into thick slices either by hand or in a food processor using a coarse grating blade.
Mix:
02 Using a large pestle and mortar ‘smash’ together the garlic and chillies. Add the green beans and lightly pound. Add 2 tsp of palm sugar, 1 whole lime cut into quarters (remove pips) and the salted peanuts. Continue pounding until all are looking slightly crushed and bruised. Now add the tomato halves and 1-2 tbsp fish sauce. Finally add the grated papaya. Mix together all the ingredients with the aid of 2 large tablespoons in a folding and turning motion.
Final check:
03 Check the seasoning as this salad should be a mixture of sweet and sour, add extra sugar for sweetness or fish and lime juice for sourness.
Serve:
04 Best eaten immediately with extra vegetables, peanuts and dried prawns.

Notes

This salad can also be made with green mangoes and is often accompanied by plain steamed rice. The ‘fieriness’ of this salad depends on the amount of chillies added and as much as your palate can tolerate.