Light and refreshing, this Vietnamese Beef Salad with Green Papaya is full of amazing flavor and texture!

Here is a delcious salad we had in Vietnam- Vietnamese Beef Salad with Green Papaya! It is crunchy and refreshing and the beef is over-the-top amazing! A lovely salad to have in the heat of summer.
If you can’t find green papaya, don’t fret. The salad can be made with rice noodles or sliced cucumber, shredded carrot, shredded cabbage or daikon….. or probably any other salad type of veggie. Just don’t use ripe papaya because it will disintegrate. Make sure the papaya is firm to touch. In Vietnam, the papaya was a very pale green on the inside too.

Why you’ll love this recipe!
The marinade for the beef – is a recipe to hold on to. The flavors (five spice and lemongrass) are surprising and delightful. The marinade also works great on pork, chicken and tofu, and served with a simple bowl of steamed rice, it makes for a perfect, healthy dinner. The only challenging part of making this salad is finding the right tool to shred the papaya. Everything else about the recipe is easy. I bought several different shredders while on our trip. It turns out I already had a shredder on my mandolin, but the hand tool shown here is easier to use.
How to make Vietnamese Beef Salad
Peel and shred the papaya. Cut a little off the bottom to make a flat edge so you can stand it up on end. Using a shredding tool, shred downwards towards the counter.
Immediately place the shredded papaya in ice water bath and let it soak in the fridge for 15-20 minutes.
Prep the beef. Cut the beef into bite-size pieces, 1/2 inch thick. Tenderloin is recommended, but tri-tip, flank steak, or flatiron steak all work fine.



Let the meat sit in the marinade for at least 30 minutes or overnight (best). Grill or sear until just cooked.

Make the Nouc Chom dressing. Drain the papaya and toss with the dressing and place on a plate with some beef and a combination of fresh herbs ( basil, cilantro and mint). Top with roasted peanuts and fried shallots.

Why you’ll love this BeEf Salad!

You may also like:
- Suwanne’s Crying Tiger Recipe (Thai Beef Salad)
- Green Papaya Salad (Bangkok- Style!)
- Mexican Papaya Salad
- Vietnamese Vermicelli Salad with Chili Vinaigrette
- Vietnamese Spring Rolls
Vietnamese Green Papaya and Beef Salad
- Prep Time: 45
- Cook Time: 20
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 3 1x
- Category: beef, dinner salad, Main, salad
- Method: grilled
- Cuisine: Vietnamese
- Diet: Dairy-Free, high fiber, high protein, Keto, Low-Carb
Description
Light and refreshing, Vietnamese Beef Salad with shredded green papaya is full of amazing flavor!
Ingredients
- 1 lb beef (tenderloin, flank steak or skirt steak)
- 3–4 cups shredded Green Papaya (or rice noodles)
- 1/4 cup red onions, thinnly sliced
- 1/2 cup fresh mint
- 1/2 cup cilantro
- 1/2 cup Thai basil (or reguar basil)
- Optional Garnishes: crushed roasted peanuts, crispy shallots, lime wedges
- 3 tablespoons lemongrass, finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons garlic, finely minced or pounded
- 2 teaspoons fish sauce
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce or vegan oyster sauce
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes
- 1 teaspoon five spice
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or water
- 1 mild red chili pepper- finely sliced ( or sub red chili paste to taste)
- 1 finely minced garlic clove
Instructions
- Make the marinade. Either place in a food processor or use a mini blender or immersion blender.
- Marinate the beef. Toss the meat with the marinade and let sit for at least 30 minutes. Or refrigerate overnight.
- Prep Green Papaya. Peel and shred green papaya and place in a bowl of ice water for 15-20 minutes. Alternatively, you could prepare rice noodles following the manufacturer’s directions.
- Make dressing. Combine lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, oil, chili, and garlic.
- Grill or use a grill pan, sear each side until just cooked to medium, or medium rare. Slice thin.
- Combine. Drain Papaya, place in a large bowl and toss with the herbs, red onions, and the dressing. Either toss in the beef (or serve on the side).
- Garnish with herbs, roasted peanuts and crispy shallots.
Notes
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 433
- Sugar: 15.2 g
- Sodium: 856.8 mg
- Fat: 18.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Carbohydrates: 30.8 g
- Fiber: 6.7 g
- Protein: 38.2 g
- Cholesterol: 90.7 mg







Hi Sylvia,
Just a clarification on the marinade you have 1/4C garlic, is that correct that seems like a lot.
Thanks,
Michele
Yes, Michelle, ¼ cup each garlic and lemongrass. 🙂
Thank you Sylvia, while waiting for your response, I went ahead and made this dish but reduced the garlic in the marinade. I used tofu and your baked version. It was excellent! I am new to your blog and so far I have loved everything I have tried. Thank you for inspiring us followers.
Best,
Michele
Thanks Michelle! Glad this worked for you and I like that you used tofu!