One of the many reasons I love living in California, is because we are able to get most of the ingredients needed to make authentic Thai food. Just 10 minutes from my house is a great Thai Market with all the fresh ingredients you need. This weekend I found a nice unripe papaya so I was inspired to make one of my favorite dishes, papaya salad.
Papaya Salad
Ingredients:
- 1 unripe papaya (shredded)
- 1 handful of roasted peanuts
- 1 handful of cherry tomatoes (quartered)
- 1 handful of Chinese long beans (cut)
- 1-2 Tbsp of dried shrimp
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1-2 fresh thai chilies (more if you want spicier)
- 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 Tbsp tamarind juice
- 1 – 2 tsp fish sauce
- 1 Tbsp palm sugar (grated)
Directions:
- In a large mortar and pestle pound the garlic, peanuts and shrimp together to make a loose paste.
- Add chilies (per your taste) and pound together.
- Add tomatoes and pound together.
- Use a large metal spoon to mix the ingredients in the bottom of the mortar around to make sure you are mixing all ingredients.
- Add the Chinese long beans and pound together.
- Add the papaya and continue pounding until all ingredients are combined together. Continue to use the spoon to mix ingredients.
- Add fresh lime juice, fish sauce, palm sugar and tamarind to taste.
- The finished product should be a combination of sweet, spicy, and sour.
- Serve on a plate with fresh cabbage and sticky rice.
nathalieskitchen 