Prawns and Thai Green Papaya Salad Recipe

A fresh and vibrant Thai salad combining crunchy green papaya and carrot with juicy prawns, cherry tomatoes, lime juice, fish sauce and palm sugar, finished with roasted peanuts.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 2
Cuisine: Thai
Course: Salad / Starter

Tags: Thai Green Papaya Salad · Som Tam · Prawn Recipes · Thai Recipes · Fresh & Healthy · Spicy Salad

Ingredients

For the Salad

• 80g cooked prawns
• 1 green papaya, peeled and finely shredded
• 1 carrot, finely shredded
• 2 garlic cloves
• 6 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 small bird's eye chilli, optional
• 2 tbsp roasted peanuts

For the Dressing

• 3 tbsp fish sauce
• 3 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 2 tbsp palm sugar syrup

Method

1. Prepare the dressing

Add the garlic and bird's eye chilli, if using, to a large pestle and mortar.

Crush for a few seconds until lightly broken down.

Add the cherry tomatoes, fish sauce, lime juice and palm sugar syrup.

Gently crush and mix for approximately 1 minute, allowing the tomatoes to release some of their juices.

2. Add the papaya and carrot

Add the shredded green papaya and carrot to the pestle and mortar.

Gently toss everything together using tongs or chopsticks, taking care not to crush the papaya too much.

Alternatively, place the papaya and carrot in a large bowl and pour over the dressing.

Toss well to combine.

3. Add the prawns

Add the cooked prawns to the salad.

Gently toss to distribute them evenly.

4. Garnish and serve

Transfer the salad to serving bowls.

Sprinkle over the roasted peanuts.

Serve immediately.

Notes

• Use green papaya: Unripe green papaya provides the firm, crunchy texture needed for this salad.
• Adjust the heat: Leave out the bird's eye chilli for a milder salad or add more for extra heat.
• Use a pestle and mortar: A large, deep pestle and mortar makes it easier to combine the dressing with the papaya while keeping everything together.
• Alternative method: If you do not have a large pestle and mortar, prepare the dressing in a smaller mortar or food processor, then toss everything together in a large bowl.