Since starting this blog, I've eaten a lot of delicious Thai food. And while it would be hard for me to look back and choose just one favorite so far, I can easily recollect which dishes I tend to make over and over again. These would be, hands down, the green mango and green papaya salads. These salads are just so fresh, crisp, and vibrant tasting that I can't get enough of them!
After eating one of each of these salads this past week, I had just enough leftover shredded mango and papaya to combine into one salad. So, combine I did to come up with this Thai-inspired green mango and papaya salad. And, oh, it was so good!
I don't think this Thai-inspired salad is that far off from what you might expect to find in Thailand. I simply mixed the shredded mango and papaya with basil and mint, added some freshly roasted cashews, and then drizzled the typical Thai salad dressing of fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and chilis over top. My guess is that if this salad were found in Thailand it would have lots of extra chilis and perhaps some type of seafood accompanying it.
For me, though, this salad was absolutely perfect. It had the right amount of spice, a nice kick of sourness from the mango and lime juice, a good burst of flavor from the basil and mint, and nice creaminess from the cashews. It was so delicious, not to mention healthy, quick, and easy. It could very well be my new "go-to" salad.
Recipe
Green Mango and Papaya Salad | ยำมะม่วงมะละกอ
Ingredients
- ½ cup shredded green mango
- ½ cup shredded green papaya
- ¼ cup basil leaves
- ¼ cup mint leaves
- ¼ cup roasted cashews
- 1 Tablespoon lime juice
- 1 Tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon dried chili flakes
Instructions
- Shred the green mango and green papaya into thin slices using a mandoline, vegetable shredder, or chef's knife. Chop the basil and mint leaves coarsely. Combine the shredded mango and papaya and herbs in a serving bowl.
- Prepare your dressing in a separate bowl by mixing the fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and dried chili flakes. Do a taste test and adjust these seasonings so that the dressing is equal parts salty, sour, and sweet. The hotness should be adjusted to your taste.
- Right before serving, add roasted cashews to the salad. Then add the dressing, a few spoonfuls at a time, until the desired taste is achieved. Don't be afraid to add more or less of the dressing, depending on the tartness of your mangos. Enjoy immediately!
emma portugal
Rachel!
You are a hero. I'm trawling through the usual recipe suspects in the .au domain, going, 'oh that's crap', 'that doesn't sound authentic' and then I remember you! Of course! Rachel will have a green mango salad! It's christmas here in australia (yes, what a coincidence, only ours comes a day earlier) and you know, it's hot - so naturally we eat thai food (and english style warm fruit pudding with custard - don't ask). Actually the christmas table becomes a melee of traditions; prawns, oysters, ham, fish, turkey (done in an asian style this year I believe, not a whole roasted beast) figs, avocados and all manner of green leaves and hybrid tomatoes. Ice cream for dessert and I might even whip a portuguese dessert or three just for fun. But my main job is a salad and green mango and papaya it must be! Thank you!
Rachel
Your description of the Australian Christmas table sounds so wonderful! Hope you enjoy the salad!
GastroStu
My first time on this blog and this seems to be one of many amazing recipes. Thai is a fascinating cuisine, your in my bookmarks now. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Peachie
I love this dish! So light and refreshing!
Yuri Sagawa
This looks amazing! I am on a all homemade kick right now to figure out gluten and other allergies. I am soooo going to try this! Thanks for the recipe!
Yuri (IngredientsWeChoose)