Green papaya salad Lao style - Tutorial

fish sauce

🥗Healthier: soy sauce

💰Cheaper: salt + water

Soy sauce provides a similar umami flavor while being vegetarian.

palm sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: brown sugar

Honey offers a natural sweetness with fewer processing steps.

green papaya

🥗Healthier: zucchini

💰Cheaper: cabbage

Zucchini can mimic the texture of papaya while being more accessible.

Thai bird chilies

🥗Healthier: jalapeño

💰Cheaper: red pepper flakes

Jalapeños provide heat with a milder flavor.

Add garlic and chili peppers to the mortar and pestle.

Add a small amount of green papaya strands and salt, then start smashing.

Cover the mortar halfway to prevent chili from jumping out.

Smash until the chilies are totally crushed and minced.

Add shrimp paste and palm sugar, continuing to smash until combined.

Add tomatoes and gently smash to release their flavor.

Add the main ingredient, firm and green papaya, into the mixture.

Add about 4 tablespoons of padek (papaya sauce).

Pour in 2 tablespoons of fish sauce.

Squeeze the juice of a whole lime (about 3 to 4 tablespoons) into the mixture.

Mix everything in the mortar, pushing from the side and up.

Taste the mixture halfway to adjust sugar and salt as needed for balance.

Plate the salad and serve with raw cabbage and optional eggplant on top.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens