Green Paw Paw Salad (Som Tam)

I love green paw paw salad. Unfortunately, it is not that easy to get my hand on green paw paw in Sydney. So the paw paw tree simply laden with green paw paws right next to our campsite at Daly River, was too much of a gift to ignore. We whipped up a salad based on what we had available, but you can basically use anything you want. In addition, I have been told that grated carrot or zucchini can be used instead of paw paw if paw paw is not available. I wanted to serve this salad with some coconut crusted barramundi, but unfortunately the fishing conditions didn't allow for this so we made a panang curry with sweet potato, asian spinach and green beans.

Ingredients (serves 3)

• quarter to a half of a green paw paw (skinned and seeded). Remaining paw paw will last several days in the fridge if wrapped in glad wrap. 
• half a red capsicum
• two spring onions
• one cucumber
• one carrot
• a bunch of coriander
• half a bunch of mint
• large red chilli
• Juice of one lime
• soy sauce
• fish sauce (optional)
• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• lemon grass

Method

Grate the paw paw and place in a bowl, sprinkle generously with salt, cover with glad wrap and put aside for 15 minutes. Then squeeze out excess liquid. This step is optional, you can simply just grate and use.

Thinly slice the capsicum and spring onions. Cut the cucumber into quarters lengthways then slice (chunky or thin depending on your taste). Peel and grate the carrot. Coarsely chop the coriander and mint (I used most of the coriander stalks in the curry). Thinly slice the chills (the amount and whether you use the seeds is up to you, we use one seeded chilli to suit Jarvis' taste and then add a little extra chilli onto mine and Rob's plates). Combine all of these ingredients with the paw paw in a large bowl.

Combine lime juice, about 2 teaspoons of soy, a dash of fish sauce and sugar in a cup and stir. Crush lemon grass in a mortar and pestle or use lemon grass paste, add about half a teaspoon to dressing mixture and stir to combine. Vary the quantities to suit your taste. You can also add a little or a lot of finely dices or crushed hot chilli.

Dress the salad just before serving and add crushed peanuts and/or bean shoots on top (if wanted).