Green Papaya Salad Recipe
A refreshing and vibrant Green Papaya Salad featuring shredded unripe papaya, fresh herbs, and a zesty lime-fish sauce dressing. This traditional Southeast Asian dish balances tangy, sweet, and spicy flavors, perfect as a light appetizer or side salad.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Southeast Asian
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
For the Salad
- 2 cups shredded green papaya (unripe papaya)
- ½ cup shredded carrot (optional, for color and sweetness)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- ¼ cup Thai basil or mint, chopped
- 2 scallions, sliced
- 2 tbsp roasted peanuts, chopped
- 1 small red chili, thinly sliced (or to taste)
For the Dressing
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 tbsp fish sauce (or soy sauce for vegan version)
- 1 tsp maple syrup or palm sugar
- 1 garlic clove, finely minced
- ½ tsp rice vinegar (optional, for extra tang)
- Optional: 1 tsp grated ginger for warmth
Instructions
- Prepare the Papaya: Peel the green papaya, remove the seeds, and shred it into thin strips using a julienne peeler, mandoline, or grater. Place the shredded papaya into a bowl of cold water to keep it crisp while you prepare the other ingredients.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the fresh lime juice, fish sauce (or soy sauce for a vegan version), maple syrup or palm sugar, finely minced garlic, and rice vinegar if using. Adjust the seasoning by adding more lime for tang, more sweetener if desired, or extra chili for heat according to your taste.
- Combine the Salad Ingredients: Drain the papaya well and pat it dry. In a large bowl, combine the shredded papaya, shredded carrots, chopped cilantro, Thai basil or mint, sliced scallions, and sliced chili. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly to mix all flavors evenly.
- Serve: Transfer the salad to a serving plate and sprinkle with chopped roasted peanuts on top. Serve immediately for the freshest texture and flavor, or chill for about 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
Notes
- Use unripe green papaya for authentic flavor and crisp texture; ripe papaya will be too soft and sweet.
- Adjust the chili level to suit your spice preference.
- For a vegan salad, substitute fish sauce with soy sauce or tamari.
- If you don’t have Thai basil, fresh mint works well as an alternative herb.
- Chilling the salad before serving enhances flavor blending but may reduce crispness slightly.
Keywords: Green Papaya Salad, Som Tam, Thai Salad, Southeast Asian Salad, Fresh Salad, No-Cook Salad, Vegan Salad Option, Spicy Salad
Find it online: https://kochenmitviktoria.com/green-papaya-salad-recipe/
