A vibrant and refreshing salad that perfectly balances sweet, sour, spicy, and savory flavors. This classic Southeast Asian dish is a delightful explosion of textures and aromas, offering a tantalizing taste of the tropics. If green papaya isn't available, crisp cucumber makes a wonderful substitute.
Ingridients
Adjust Servings
Nutrition
Carbohydrate
7 g
Fiber
1 g
Protein
2 g
Saturated Fat
0 g
Sodium
368 mg
Sugar
4 g
Fat
2 g
Unsaturated Fat
0 g
DIRECTIONS
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01 Step
Recipe View
5 mins
In a large mortar, combine the garlic, Thai green chiles, and green beans. Using a pestle, pound roughly until the garlic and chiles are slightly crushed and the green beans are bruised. (Approximately 3-5 minutes)
02 Step
Recipe View
3 mins
Add the julienned green papaya to the mortar. Pound again, gently bruising the papaya to release its flavors and soften its texture. (Approximately 2-3 minutes)
03 Step
Recipe View
1 mins
In a small bowl, whisk together the fish sauce, lime juice, and palm sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Pour this dressing over the papaya mixture in the mortar.
04 Step
Recipe View
2 mins
Pound again to combine the dressing with the other ingredients, ensuring everything is well coated. (Approximately 1-2 minutes)
05 Step
Recipe View
1 mins
Add the chopped tomato to the mortar and gently pound to combine. Be careful not to over-pound the tomato, as you want to retain some of its texture. (Approximately 30 seconds)
06 Step
Recipe View
1 mins
Stir in the finely chopped peanuts. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed, adding more fish sauce, lime juice, or sugar to achieve your desired balance of flavors.
07 Step
Recipe View
1 mins
Transfer the Green Papaya Salad to a serving platter. Garnish with additional chopped peanuts and serve immediately. For an extra touch, you can also garnish with fresh cilantro or mint leaves.
For a spicier salad, use more Thai green chiles or add a pinch of dried chili flakes.
If you don't have a mortar and pestle, you can roughly chop the garlic, chiles, and green beans and then combine all ingredients in a large bowl, tossing well to combine.
Palm sugar adds a unique caramel-like sweetness, but if you can't find it, light brown sugar is a good substitute.
The quality of the fish sauce greatly impacts the flavor of the salad. Use a reputable brand for the best results.
Make sure to dry-roast the peanuts yourself for the best flavor, or buy dry-roasted unsalted peanuts.
For a vegetarian/vegan version, substitute the fish sauce with soy sauce or tamari and add a pinch of sea salt for the umami flavor.
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Shanie Mann
Feb 27, 2025I love the addition of the palm sugar – it adds a really unique sweetness.
Tyshawn Balistreri
Dec 28, 2024I tried the vegetarian version with soy sauce, and it was surprisingly good! Thanks for the suggestion.
Pearlie Boyer
Nov 10, 2024I added a little extra lime juice for a bit more tang, and it was delicious!
King Ryan
Oct 30, 2024I've made this salad several times now, and it's always a hit. The instructions are clear and easy to follow.
Arvel Bradtke
Oct 12, 2024This recipe is fantastic! The balance of flavors is perfect, and it's so easy to make.
Winona Herman
Oct 9, 2024The tip about dry-roasting the peanuts is spot on – it makes a huge difference in the flavor.