Taiwanese Green Papaya Salad
It's not like a Thai somtum! Passion fruit sweet and sour green papaya
Description
Unlike Thai Som Tum! A cold dish where julienned unripe green papaya is marinated not with garlic/fish sauce, but sweet/sour like a dessert using Taiwan's specialty passion fruit juice and sugar.
Restaurants serving Taiwanese Green Papaya Salad
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We are researching restaurants that serve this dish.
On this site you can check dictionary details and, later, places to buy or eat related items.
The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Green papaya
- Passion fruit(flesh and seeds)
- Sugar
- White vinegar
- Salt
Instructions
- [Authentic Recipe]
- [Green Papaya Prep] Peel unripe green papaya, halve, remove white seeds. Julienne finely with a slicer, leaving enough thickness for texture.
- Sprinkle salt, massage lightly, leave
- mins to draw out moisture and astringency.
- Wash off salt briefly, squeeze out water 'firmly' by hand (creates a crunchy texture).
- [Magic Marinade] Halve fresh Taiwanese 'passion fruit (Baixiangguo)', scoop flesh and black seeds into a bowl. Mix with sugar (or honey) and a little white vinegar.
- Toss the drained green papaya into this marinade.
- Chill thoroughly in the fridge overnight (at least hours) until the papaya turns vibrant yellow and flavors meld before serving.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Intense tropical aroma of passion fruit
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
Daikon or carrots (sub for green papaya)
Pairing
Xiaolongbao or heavy meat dishes
Trivia
[For Women] Green papaya salad (Som Tum) evokes super-spicy Thai food, but the mainstream Taiwanese Xiaocai (small dish) version is a sweet/sour, dessert-like salad marinated in 'Baixiangguo (passion fruit)'. Enzyme-rich for beauty, a hugely popular palate cleanser for women.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Eating] Crunch the crisp green papaya together with the popping 'black seeds' of the passion fruit, resetting your mouth with tropical flavors!
Allergen
None