Green Papaya Vinegar Salad

The Ancient Revival: Intuitive Green Papaya Salad

Papaya salad is our all-time favorite South East Asian style salad. We like them traditional, but we also like them with all sorts of fun variations. In Vietnam we have had them with beef jerky, pork skin, and snails! The snail salad is something we cannot stop talking about. We had been biking around Hoi An all day and stumbled into an old mom-and-pop spot serving the salad alongside crispy grilled sesame rice crackers. A few years later, we managed to find the exact same spot that was tucked away based on just a few key memories.

Every time we make a papaya salad, it is ever so slightly different. We will usually fry up some peanuts, kefir lime leaves, and turmeric to add on top last. But this time around, we added some pickled local bamboo and green starfruit for a funky addition. Next, Shannon wants to try adding mangosteen so that we can add less sweetener to the dressing! Will keep you all posted on that concept.

Your papaya must be green. If it is at all starting to ripen, your salad will not turn out well. If you cannot get a green one, use green cabbage instead!

🛒 Salad Ingredients

Follow your own intuition and create with what you have!

• • 4 Cups Shredded Green Papaya (or cabbage)
• • 1/2 Cup Peanuts
• • 1 tbs Chopped turmeric
• • 1 tbs Chopped ginger
• • 6 Lime leaves (or 2 stalks of lemongrass)
• • 1/4 Cup Pickled bamboo or onions
• • Fresh chilis of your choosing
• • 1/2 Cup Crunchy fruit (mango, starfruit, peach, or grapefruit)
• • 1 Rose for a pretty garnish
• • 1/4 to 1/2 Cup Avocado oil for frying

🏺 The Sauce Framework

• • 1 Part Sour Flower Vinegar (Mango, Guava, or Jackfruit)
• • 1 Part Fish sauce
• • 1 Part Honey or sugar
• • 1 Part Water + garlic and chilis to taste

Just make at least 2 tablespoons worth for each of the parts so you have enough!

🥣 Assembly Method

• Step 1: Shred Your Base
  First peel the outer layer of the papaya then use the special shredder to get your papaya strips. Careful towards the middle because the seeds can be bitter. Or thinly slice your green cabbage.
• Step 2: Massage the Greens
  Give the shredded papaya or cabbage a nice massage so that it is not so stiff.
• Step 3: Build Layers
  Add your fruit and pickled additions over top the shredded papaya in the bowl you plan to serve out of.
• Step 4: The Hot Fry
  Fry the peanuts, turmeric, ginger, and lemongrass or lime leaves in your frying oil until the peanuts are ready.
• Step 5: Flash Infusion
  Strain the hot oil and pour the hot ingredients right over the assembled salad in the bowl.
• Step 6: Garnish
  Top with some sort of garnish like cilantro, Thai basil, rose petals, and chilis. Better yet, use all four!
• Step 7: Pour Sauce
  Right before serving, pour the appropriate amount of sauce over top. You do not want to drown it! Keep any leftovers for dipping grilled meats, spring rolls, or rice bowls.

There is no wrong or right way to make a papaya salad. No recipe is right! Enjoy it the way you choose to make it.