By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 12, 2026
Serves 8
72 cal · 15 min
Green Papaya Salad
Recipe GLPR3efd63a5c9cc1e
A vibrant Southeast Asian salad featuring shredded green papaya tossed with a tangy and spicy dressing made from fresh Thai chile, lime juice, fish sauce, and sugar. This light, refreshing dish is traditionally served as a side or appetizer and highlights the crisp texture of raw green papaya balanced with bold, punchy flavors.
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Ingredients
1 fresh red Thai chile, finely chopped
2 tablespoons Asian fish sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
1 whole Juice of 1 lime
2 pounds green papaya, peeled, seeded, and finely shredded
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves
Directions
In a small bowl, combine the finely chopped red Thai chile, fish sauce, sugar, and fresh lime juice. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved, creating a balanced dressing with spicy, salty, sweet, and tart notes.
Place the finely shredded green papaya in a large mixing bowl.
Add the halved cherry tomatoes and fresh cilantro leaves to the papaya.
Pour the prepared dressing over the papaya mixture and toss gently but thoroughly, ensuring all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
Serve immediately while the salad is crisp and fresh, dividing among 8 servings.
Comments
Green papaya and Thai chili peppers will require a trip to an Asian market—neither Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Publix, Walmart, ALDI, or Kroger banners reliably stock them—making this a planned dish rather than a weeknight impulse. Fish sauce adds another specialty-stop ingredient. The other components (lime, cherry tomatoes, cilantro, sugar) are standard, and at $12–15 total the cost per serving lands around $1.50–$1.90, which is reasonable for a fresh salad that serves eight. The stated 15 minutes understates reality if you're shredding green papaya by hand; budget 25 minutes with a mandoline or box grater, or assume food processor work. The finished salad does not keep well—it softens within hours—so plan to serve it same-night.
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