Description
This Vietnamese Green Papaya Salad is topped with tender grilled lemongrass beef, fresh herbs, and tangy Nuoc Cham dressing for a fresh, flavorful, protein-packed meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 lb beef (tenderloin, flank steak or skirt steak)
- 3-4 cups shredded Green Papaya (or vermicelli rice noodles)
- 1/4 cup red onions, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup fresh mint
- 1/2 cup cilantro
- 1/2 cup Thai basil (or regular basil)
- Optional Garnishes: crushed roasted peanuts, crispy shallots, lime wedges
Vietnamese Beef Marinade:
- 3-4 tablespoons lemongrass, finely chopped
- 3-4 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
Nouc Cham Dressing:
- 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 it in a food processor or use a mini blender or immersion blender.
- Marinate the beef. Toss the meat with the marinade and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. Or refrigerate overnight for the BEST flavor.
- Prep Green Papaya. Peel and shred green papaya and place in a bowl of ice water for 15-20 minutes. Alternatively, you could prepare vermicelli 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
Papaya Salad is best served fresh on the day it is made; however, leftovers will keep up to a day in an airtight container in the fridge.
Fried Shallots- can either be made from scratch, although Trader Joe’s and most Asian markets offer them as a condiment already packaged, which I have found are extremely handy and tasty. They offer good flavor and texture.
Lemongrass can be found in most grocery stores, in the herb or produce section. If you find you cook with lemongrass a lot, a nice option is purchasing it in bulk, already chopped, in the freezer section of most Asian markets.
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
