Best 5 Thai Green Papaya Salad Recipes

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**Embark on a Culinary Adventure with Thai Green Papaya Salad: A Symphony of Flavors and Textures**

Prepare to tantalize your taste buds with the vibrant and refreshing Thai Green Papaya Salad, a culinary masterpiece that embodies the perfect balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors. Originating from Thailand's northeastern region, this iconic dish, also known as Som Tum, captivates the senses with its symphony of textures, featuring crisp green papaya, crunchy peanuts, aromatic herbs, and a zesty dressing. The tangy lime juice, pungent fish sauce, and fiery chili peppers create an explosion of flavors that lingers on the palate. Our curated collection of recipes offers variations of this beloved salad, catering to diverse preferences and dietary restrictions. From the classic Som Tum Thai with its traditional ingredients to the vegan-friendly version that omits fish sauce and incorporates tofu, there's a perfect recipe for every palate. Dive into the vibrant world of Thai cuisine and let the Green Papaya Salad transport you to the bustling streets of Bangkok, where this delectable dish reigns supreme.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

GREEN MANGO AND PAPAYA SALAD IN CLASSIC THAI DRESSING (YAM MAMUANG)



Green Mango and Papaya Salad in Classic Thai Dressing (Yam Mamuang) image

Provided by Food Network

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 green papaya, peeled and julienned
2 large green mangoes, peeled and julienned
1 pound haricots verts or long string beans, cut into 1-inch sections
6 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 onions, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon ground dried shrimp*
1 teaspoon finely sliced fresh Thai Red Chili*
1 bunch cilantro, stems removed
1 teaspoon dried chili flakes (optional)
8 Bibb lettuce leaves (to serve)
12 cherry tomatoes, cut in half (to serve)
2 tablespoons roasted ground peanuts

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, combine green mango, papaya, string beans and lemon juice. Set aside for 5 minutes. In a wok or frying pan, heat oil, add garlic and fry until golden. Add onions and fry until clear. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside on absorbent kitchen paper.
  • To the mango mixture add fish sauce, sugar, dried shrimp, chili, cilantro and dried chili flakes, if desired. Toss gently and chill.
  • Serve on a bed of 2 Bibb lettuce leaves, with garnishes of tomato halves, peanuts, fried onion and garlic

THAI GRILLED CHICKEN WITH THAI GREEN PAPAYA SALAD (GAI YANG WITH SOM TAM)



Thai Grilled Chicken with Thai Green Papaya Salad (Gai Yang with Som Tam) image

Provided by Leah Cohen

Categories     main-dish

Time 13h

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

Two 1 1/2-pound chickens or one 3-pound chicken
4 cilantro roots, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons fish sauce
2 tablespoons palm sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons whole white peppercorns
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1/2 tablespoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 large cloves plus 8 medium cloves garlic, minced (about 1/4 cup)
1/4 cup canola oil
1 stalk lemongrass, bruised
2 medium cloves garlic
3 red Thai chiles
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon palm sugar
Juice of 2 limes
3 cups shredded peeled green papaya
1/4 cup long beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons whole roasted unsalted peanuts, optional
1 tablespoon dried shrimp, optional

Steps:

  • For the Thai grilled chicken: Spatchcock each chicken by placing it breast-side down on a cutting board with the legs closest to you. Use kitchen shears to cut down the backbone. Flip the chicken over and press down in the center of the breast to flatten. Prick the skin side all over with a fork.
  • Add the cilantro roots, fish sauce, palm sugar, peppercorns, oyster sauce, turmeric, salt and 4 cloves of the garlic to a food processor. Process until all the peppercorns are broken up and a chunky paste is formed.
  • Rub the chicken all over with the paste (including under the skin) and marinate at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours.
  • Meanwhile, cook the remaining 8 cloves garlic with the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until light golden brown, about 3 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh sieve, capturing the oil in a small bowl beneath. Spread the garlic on a plate to cool; reserve for serving.
  • Before grilling, bring the chicken to room temperature for an hour. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the garlic oil over the chicken.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Heat a double-burner grill pan over medium heat.
  • Place chickens skin-side down on the grill pan at a 45 degree angle. Cook until marked by the grill pan, flipping once to create crosshatches, about 5 minutes. Transfer skin-side up to a baking sheet fitted with a wire rack.
  • Trim off the spiky top and the base from the lemongrass, peel off the first few outer layers and then bruise the stalk with the heel of a chef's knife; this helps release the flavorful oils. Using the bruised lemongrass as a brush, baste the chickens all over with some of the remaining garlic oil.
  • Cook in the oven until the chickens are golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part registers 165 degrees F, 10 to 15 minutes. For the last 2 minutes of baking, switch the oven to broil.
  • Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes and then cut each into pieces. Garnish with the reserved garlic.
  • For the Thai green papaya salad: Add the garlic, chiles, fish sauce, palm sugar and lime juice to a food processor. Process until a chunky paste is formed. (At this point you can adjust the flavor to your liking; add more fish sauce for a saltier taste, more lime juice to make the salad more sour.)
  • Transfer the paste to a large bowl and add the papaya, long beans, tomatoes and the dried shrimp and 1 tablespoon of the peanuts if using. Mix together by hand, rubbing the paste into the salad, making sure to coat everything.
  • Transfer the salad to a serving dish, making sure to get all the dressing. Top with the remaining 1 tablespoon peanuts if using.

THAI GREEN PAPAYA SALAD



Thai Green Papaya Salad image

Provided by Molly Wizenberg

Categories     Salad     Tomato     Appetizer     Side     Low Fat     Low Cal     Papaya     Peanut     Shrimp     Healthy     Low Cholesterol     Cilantro     Chile Pepper     Bon Appétit     Pescatarian     Dairy Free     Wheat/Gluten-Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free

Yield Makes 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

5 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons (packed) palm sugar or golden brown sugar
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons fish sauce
2 tablespoons dried shrimp, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 Chinese long beans, halved crosswise or 15 green beans
1 1 1/2- to 13/4-pound green papaya, peeled, halved, seeded
10 large cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 green onions, very thinly sliced
1 fresh red Thai chile with seeds, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped salted peanuts
Special Equipment
Julienne peeler or box grater

Steps:

  • Whisk first 5 ingredients in medium bowl. Set dressing aside.
  • Cook beans in medium saucepan of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Rinse under cold water. Cut into 2-inch pieces. Using julienne peeler, peel enough papaya to measure 6 cups. Place in large bowl. Add tomatoes, cilantro, green onions, chile, and green beans. Pour dressing over; toss. Sprinkle peanuts over and serve.
  • Ingredient tips:
  • Palm sugar, fish sauce (nam pla or nuoc nam), dried shrimp, Chinese long beans, green papaya, and Thai chiles can all be found at Asian markets.

THAI GREEN PAPAYA SALAD (SOM TUM) WITH GRILLED THAI SHRIMP



Thai Green Papaya Salad (Som Tum) with Grilled Thai Shrimp image

Provided by Jeff Corwin

Categories     main-dish

Time 2h35m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 25

1 large or 2 medium green papaya (see Cook's Note)
1/2 pound green string beans
4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
4 tablespoons Thai fish sauce, nam pla
4 tablespoons palm sugar, available in most Mexican, Latin or Asian supermarkets, or substitute brown sugar, or white sugar
2 large carrots (peeled and shredded to the same strip-size as papaya)
1/4 cup loosely chopped cilantro leaves
1/4 cup loosely chopped mint
4 tablespoons dried Thai shrimp, optional
2 to 4 Thai chiles also called prik chiles, minced
1/4 cup unsalted peanuts, toasted and lightly crushed
Jeff's Thai Grilled Shrimp, recipe follows
Jasmine sticky rice, or steamed vermicelli rice noodles, optional, as an accompaniment
1/2 cup Thai sweet chili and garlic sauce (recommended: Mae Ploy now available in most grocery stores)
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/4 cup ponzu sauce, or substitute the juice of 1 lime
1 1/2 teaspoons soy sauce
Splash Thai fish sauce, nam pla
1 teaspoon sriracha sauce
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
4 or 5 sprigs mint, leaves removed and finely chopped, or substitute Thai basil
Handful cilantro leaves, finely chopped
3 pounds large shrimp

Steps:

  • Peel the papaya (I use a standard vegetable peeler), then slice papaya in half and scoop out black, slippery round seeds and some of the stringy flesh, but be careful not to scoop into good, firm flesh for the salad. Shred the papaya on a mandoline or a box grater. Set aside. Snip off the tips of the green beans. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium heat and add the beans. Cook until crisp tender, about 3 to 4 minutes. Drain and quickly add the beans to ice water. Cut the beans in half, about 2-inches in length and add them to a large bowl. In a large mixing bowl whisk the lime juice, fish sauce, and sugar, until the sugar is dissolved. Mix in the shredded papaya, green beans and carrots until well coated (I like to use tongs for this). Toss in the cilantro, mint, and dried shrimp. Then mix in the hot chiles, to taste. Let salad stand for 20 minutes or up to 2 hours, covered in the refrigerator.
  • Before serving, mix in most of the crushed peanuts, reserving a few tablespoons for garnish. When serving, mound the salad in center of a plate and sprinkle the remaining peanuts on top. The dish can be served on its own, or with Thai Grilled Shrimp and Thai jasmine or sticky rice, or with steamed vermicelli-rice noodles.
  • Preheat grill to medium heat. In a large bowl whisk all the marinade ingredients together. Add the shrimp and let marinate for up to 1 hour. Grill the shrimp 4 to 6 minutes each side until they begin to curl, get pink in color and firm up. Do not over cook or they will get rubbery. Brush the shrimp with the marinade during grilling. Put the remaining marinade in a small saucepan and bring to boil over high heat. Cook the marinade for at least 2 minutes and serve it as a sauce on the side. Serve the shrimp with the papaya salad. Cook's Note: This marinade/sauce is great with chicken thighs and pork tenderloin. If using chicken or pork then double the marinade recipe, marinate for 4 hours, and grill accordingly.

THAI GREEN PAPAYA SALAD (SOM TAM)



THAI GREEN PAPAYA SALAD (SOM TAM) image

Categories     Salad     Vegetable     Side

Yield 4 People

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 1/2 cups shredded green papaya
4 medium red and green Serrano chilies (to taste)
2 large cloves garlic, skinned
1 cup green or string beans, cut in 1" pieces
6 cherry tomatoes, cut each in half
2 tsp. ground peanuts
2 Tbsp small dried shrimps
Cabbage and Iceberg lettuce leaves
Dressing:
5 Tbsp lime juice
3 Tbsp. fish sauce
3 Tbsp. sugar
4 Tbsp. finely ground dried shrimps
Combine the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

Steps:

  • Using a mortar and pestle, pound chilies and garlic to course texture. Add papaya, green beans, tomatoe and pound 1-2 minutes longer, mixing with a spoon while pounding. Add dried shrimps, peanuts, dressing and mix well. Serve immediately with cabbage and lettuce leaves. Goes well with Thai style BBQ chicken and steamed sticky rice.

Tips:

  • To make the salad more flavorful, use a mortar and pestle to grind the garlic, chili peppers, and shrimp paste. This will release their flavors and aromas.
  • If you can't find green papaya, you can substitute unripe mango.
  • To make the salad more spicy, add more chili peppers. You can also add a bit of fish sauce or lime juice to taste.
  • Som Tum is best served fresh, but it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Conclusion:

Som Tum is a delicious and refreshing salad that is perfect for a hot summer day. It is also a healthy salad, as it is packed with vitamins and minerals. If you are looking for a new and exciting salad to try, I highly recommend Som Tum.

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