Green papaya salad mixed with dried beef can be completed in just a few simple minutes, yet its flavor is incredibly delicious. You don’t need to cook anything elaborate to have a tasty appetizer to treat the whole family. Let’s get into the kitchen and try making this green papaya salad with dried beef!
Green papaya salad with dried beef is a wonderful appetizer for family meals or can be a snack for the afternoon. In Vietnam, you can easily buy this dish from street vendors in front of schools or at snack shops. If you don’t have the opportunity to buy it, you can definitely make it yourself with the recipe for green papaya salad with dried beef in this article.
Ingredients for green papaya salad with dried beef
To make a portion of green papaya salad with dried beef for 4 people, prepare the following ingredients:
- Half a green papaya
- 1 carrot
- 100g dried beef
- Half an onion
- 20g peanuts
- 2 lemons
- 2 chili peppers
- 5 sprigs of Vietnamese coriander (rau răm)
- 5 sprigs of mint
- 3 shallots
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
Instructions on how to make green papaya salad with dried beef
Prepare the ingredients:
- Peel the papaya and carrot, wash them, and let them drain. To reduce the sap from the green papaya, make a few cuts on the body of the papaya before peeling. Peel the green papaya in a bowl of diluted saltwater to prevent the sap from sticking to your hands.
- Use a slicer to shred the papaya and carrot into thin strips.
- Soak the shredded strips in a bowl of ice water for 10 minutes, then remove and drain. This method will help the papaya and carrot be crunchier and tastier after mixing the salad.
- Peel the onion and cut it into thin rings.
- Remove the stems of the chili peppers, wash them, cut them in half, remove the seeds, and then slice them into strips.
- Pick out the damaged leaves from the mint and Vietnamese coriander, wash them in water, and chop them finely.
- Peel the shallots and slice them thinly.
- Cut the lemons into pieces and squeeze to extract the juice, removing the seeds.
Process the ingredients
- In a bowl, mix lemon juice with 2 tablespoons of fish sauce and 3 tablespoons of sugar, then stir well and adjust the seasoning to taste.
- Place a pan on the stove over medium heat. When the pan is hot, add the peanuts along with half a teaspoon of salt. Stir the peanuts evenly on the stove for 3 to 5 minutes until they are golden and fragrant, then turn off the heat, let them cool, and remove the skins.
- Remove the peanuts from the pan, wipe the pan clean, then place it back on the stove over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil, and when the oil is hot, add the shallots and fry them until they are golden and fragrant, then turn off the heat.
Mix the green papaya salad with dried beef
Once the ingredients are ready, place the shredded papaya and carrot in a large bowl. Add the fried shallots, chopped mint, Vietnamese coriander, onion, fried shallots, dried beef, and sliced chili. Pour in enough fish sauce mixture and toss well. Finally, sprinkle the roasted peanuts on top and enjoy.
With this method of making green papaya salad with dried beef, you’ll have a dish that is visually appealing and colorful. The papaya and carrot are crunchy and sweet, soaked in a well-balanced fish sauce dressing, with nutty peanuts, fragrant fried shallots, and chewy, savory dried beef. With just 10 minutes of preparation and execution, you have a delicious dish to treat the whole family!
Notes on making green papaya salad with dried beef
The deliciousness of the green papaya salad with dried beef depends on certain tips during preparation:
- Choose green papaya instead of ripe papaya to ensure the salad is crunchy and tasty.
- After shredding the papaya, soak it in clean water with a little lemon juice to remove the sap and prevent a slightly bitter taste when eating.
- It’s best to eat the salad immediately after mixing; do not let it sit too long as it will become soggy and lose its original delicious taste.
Tips for selecting fresh ingredients for the salad
Here are some signs to help you choose fresh papaya and carrot for making the salad:
- Choose a papaya that is moderately sized, not too small or too large, with an elongated shape. It should feel heavy in hand and have a natural, gentle fragrance.
- Avoid papayas that show signs of wilting, feel mushy when pressed, or look dull and old.
- Select carrots that have a fresh, vibrant orange color, are moderately sized, not too large, with a smooth outer skin. They should feel firm to the touch and not mushy when pressed.
- Avoid carrots that have irregular shapes, cracked skins, or show signs of bruising or wilting. These are older carrots that have lost their freshness and will not ensure the flavor of the salad after preparation.
Benefits of eating green papaya salad with dried beef
According to researchers, eating green papaya offers numerous health benefits, specifically:
- Improves digestion issues such as bloating, acid reflux, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome due to its high fiber content and enzymes like papain and chymopapain.
- Boosts the immune system thanks to its rich antioxidant components such as tannins, magnesium, flavonoids, beta-carotene, and saponins, which enhance resistance and help the body fight off external pathogens.
- Protects cardiovascular health and is beneficial for those with heart pain or a history of cardiovascular diseases because beta-sitosterol and quercetin in papaya promote intestinal absorption of cholesterol and reduce bad cholesterol in the blood.
- Cleanses the colon with its abundant vitamins, fiber, and the active enzyme papain, which helps detoxify and cleanse the body.
- Benefits people with diabetes by stabilizing blood sugar levels and stimulating the body to release insulin, thanks to minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, chromium, and zinc.
I hope these insights have helped you learn the detailed method to make a delicious and flavorful green papaya salad with dried beef. This is also an ideal suggestion if you are looking for a dish to gather friends on the weekend. To learn more recipes for various Vietnamese salads, visit Foodvietnamese.com!
