Green Papaya Salad with Grilled Shrimp served over steamed jasmine rice.

Green Papaya Salad with Grilled Shrimp served over steamed jasmine rice.

This recipe combines the fresh, bright flavors of green papaya, herbs, and lime with the smoky, char-grilled shrimp. Green Papaya Salad is a traditional Thai dish known as “Som Tum”, it typically consists of shredded unripe papaya, chilies, fish sauce, lime juice, and other ingredients, the sour and sweet flavors of the dressing balance the salty and spicy flavors of the dish, making it a perfect and refreshing combination.

Wine Pairings

1. Sauvignon Blanc: Sauvignon Blanc’s high acidity and citrus flavors can help to cut through the spiciness of the green papaya salad and complement the flavors of the grilled shrimp.
2. Riesling: Riesling’s fruitiness and sweetness would complement the sweetness of the shrimp and balance the acidity and spiciness of the green papaya salad.
3. Viognier: Viognier’s rich and full-bodied flavors would complement the rich flavors of the grilled shrimp and balance the acidity and spiciness of the green papaya salad.
4. Pinot Gris: Pinot Gris’s light body and crisp acidity would complement the flavors of the green papaya salad and grilled shrimp, and also balance the spiciness of the dish.
5. Gewürztraminer: Gewürztraminer’s spicy and floral notes would complement the spices and herbs used in the dish and balance the sweetness of the grilled shrimp.

It’s important to note that pairing wine with food is a matter of personal preference, these are just suggestions and you can always experiment with different wines to find the perfect pairing for your taste.

Ingredients: For the salad:

• 1/2 green papaya, peeled, seeded, and julienned
• 1/4 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/4 cup chopped mint
• 1/4 cup chopped basil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 red chili pepper, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon palm sugar or brown sugar

For the shrimp:

• 12 large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon palm sugar or brown sugar
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• 1 teaspoon chili flakes

For the steamed jasmine rice:

• 1 cup jasmine rice
• 1 and 1/2 cups water

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the green papaya, cherry tomatoes, cilantro, mint, basil, garlic, and red chili pepper. In a separate bowl, whisk together the fish sauce, lime juice, and palm sugar. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
2. In a small bowl, combine the vegetable oil, fish sauce, palm sugar, garlic, lime juice, and chili flakes. Thread the shrimp onto skewers and brush with the marinade.
3. In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add the rice, stir, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 18-20 minutes or until rice is tender.
4. Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Grill the shrimp skewers for 2-3 minutes per side or until cooked through.
5. Serve the green papaya salad with grilled shrimp and steamed jasmine rice.

This dish offers a perfect balance of flavors and textures, which makes it a perfect option for those who love fresh and light dishes, also it’s a great option for those who love spicy food, and it’s a great way to enjoy a traditional Thai dish.