Some say you can’t have a real Green Papaya Salad without a good mortar and pestle. The traditional set up is a clay mortar with wooden pestle. I bought a set at Nam Hai for $15 (they had a huge selection of them – I purchased one of the smallest). Still, I love how deep it is and the pleasant (rather dull) sound (much different than my porcelain on porcelain set which makes a sharp, clinking sound). If you can find a set at your Asian market, I highly recommend getting one.
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| 4 people |
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Some say you can’t have a real Green Papaya Salad without a good mortar and pestle. The traditional set up is a clay mortar with wooden pestle. I bought a set at Nam Hai for $15 (they had a huge selection of them – I purchased one of the smallest). Still, I love how deep it is and the pleasant (rather dull) sound (much different than my porcelain on porcelain set which makes a sharp, clinking sound). If you can find a set at your Asian market, I highly recommend getting one.
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Ingredients
- 4-6 cloves garlic , peeled and quartered
- 4 Thai bird chili peppers (or more, to taste)
- 1/3 cup palm sugar , cut into small chunks – OR –
- sugar
- 1/2 cup peanuts
- 1/2 lb green beans , cut into 1″ pieces
- 1 1/2 tsp tamarind paste
- 1/3 cup fish sauce
- 1/3 cup lime juice (about 2 limes)
- 1 lb green papaya , shredded
- cherry tomatoes
- 3 Tbsp dried shrimp
Garnish:
- fresh cilantro , torn
- Thai bird chili peppers
- 1 lime , sliced
Servings: people
Units:
Instructions
- Pound the garlic with chilies and palm sugar until a paste forms.
- The palm sugar will resist for a long time, but just when you think it’ll never happen, the whole thing will dissolve into a lovely paste. (You may need to use a spoon to loosen it from the bottom while you work)
- Next, give the peanuts several whacks until beginning to crumble, then add in the green beans. Whack them a few times for good measure.
- Stir in the tamarind paste, lime juice, and fish sauce until the green beans are evenly coated.
- The mixture will be wet and spicy… and all kinds of irresistible.
- Pile on the shredded green papaya, tomatoes, and shrimp. Give them a few whacks with the pestle.
- Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and mix thoroughly. Garnish with lime wedges, Thai Bird Chili peppers… even a sprinkling of cilantro, if desired.