That sounds delightful! Papaya salad is a refreshing and flavorful dish that's perfect for warm weather. Here's a simple and delicious recipe for papaya salad:
Ingredients:
1 medium-sized green papaya
2-3 cloves of garlic
2-3 Thai bird's eye chilies (adjust according to your spice preference)
2 tablespoons palm sugar (you can use brown sugar as a substitute)
3 tablespoons fish sauce (you can use soy sauce for a vegetarian version)
Juice of 1-2 limes (adjust to taste)
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped
A handful of fresh cilantro leaves
A handful of fresh basil leaves
Optional additions: green beans, shredded carrot, or shrimp for variation
Instructions:
Peel the green papaya and cut it in half. Remove the seeds using a spoon. You can also use a vegetable peeler or a mandolin slicer to shred the papaya into thin strips. If you prefer it less spicy, you can soak the shredded papaya in cold water for about 30 minutes to reduce the heat of the chilies.
In a mortar and pestle, pound the garlic and chilies together until they form a coarse paste. If you don't have a mortar and pestle, you can mince the garlic and chilies finely with a knife.
In a small bowl, mix the palm sugar, fish sauce (or soy sauce), and lime juice until the sugar dissolves completely. Taste the dressing and adjust the flavors to your liking. If you prefer it sweeter, add more sugar; if you want it tangier, add more lime juice.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded papaya, halved cherry tomatoes, and the dressing. Toss everything together, making sure the dressing coats the papaya and tomatoes evenly.
Add the roasted peanuts, fresh cilantro, and basil leaves to the bowl. Toss again to combine all the ingredients.
Serve the papaya salad on a plate or in a bowl. You can garnish it with additional peanuts, cilantro, and basil leaves for presentation.
Enjoy your fresh and delicious papaya salad! It's a perfect side dish or even a light and healthy main course for a hot summer day. The combination of sweet, sour, and spicy flavors with the crunchy papaya and peanuts makes it a true tropical delight.
