Thai Papaya Salad

If you don’t have pre-shredded papaya, peel papaya using a paring knife. Either using a mandoline (be very careful) or by hand, julienne papaya and set aside.

Mince dried shrimp, garlic, and peppers as fine as possible. Add into a mortar and crush with a pestle until well combined. A mortar and pestle really allow the oils and flavors to come out of the ingredients but if you don’t have one, you can toss the ingredients into a resealable bag and roll over it with a rolling pin.

In a small bowl, whisk the crushed mixture with lime juice, fish sauce, and brown sugar until all the sugar has dissolved. Taste the dressing and adjust accordingly (if it’s too sweet, add a little more lime juice).

Empty the dressing into a larger bowl. Add shredded papaya to the bowl and toss using tongs. Garnish with some crushed peanuts and fresh cilantro. Enjoy!