Green Papaya Salad

Green Papaya Salad

　　Green Papaya Salad

　　When visiting Dai villages in Xishuangbanna, the most common sight is rows of papaya trees planted in front of bamboo houses or along fences. These trees not only beautify the courtyard but also serve as the key ingredient for making the traditional Dai dish “Green Papaya Salad.”

　　Green Papaya Salad is a delicious dish. There are two main steps to making it. First, the papaya is shredded, then fresh chili peppers, tomatoes, lemons, salt, sugar, monosodium glutamate, fish sauce, and other ingredients are pounded into a paste in a stone mortar using a pestle. This mixture is then combined with the shredded papaya to create a tangy, sweet, spicy, salty, and uniquely fish-sauce-flavored Green Papaya Salad.