Spicy Papaya Salad With Smoky Roasted Peanuts

Fed up with boring green salad? Try this fresh and spicy papaya salad with smoky roasted peanuts and a lime chilli dressing. Fresh, vibrant and healthy.

When it’s treat night we often get a takeout from an Asian place downtown. They serve a great vegan Puffed Tofu in Coconut Curry Sauce. It is delicious and I always order their papaya salad to go with it.

Last time I ate it, Idecided that I wanted to recreate my own version of the salad at home so I could eat it more often!

My version isn’t exactly the same but it is super tasty and brings together similar flavours and textures. I hope that you will enjoy it.

This Spicy Papaya Salad is

zingy

fresh

aromatic

with a bit of heat and a bit of crunch from a sprinkling of sweet & smoky roasted peanuts.

When you are shopping for your papayas make sure you buy nice bright green ones. I know that in most instances ripe fruit is best, but in this salad we want unripe green papaya.

This salad keeps well in the fridge for a few days but I advise that you keep the peanuts separate in a sealed jar until you serve, otherwise they tend to go a bit soggy.

If you love salads that are a bit our of the ordinary then be sure to check out my Minted Watermelon Salad.

Spicy Papaya Salad

Fresh papaya salad with crunchy smoky roasted peanuts and a chilli lime dressing.

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Course: Salad

Cuisine: gluten-free, oil-free, vegan

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total time: 20 minutes

Makes: 4 servings

Calories: 192kcal

Author: Melanie McDonald

Ingredients

• 62g | 1/2 cup of raw peanuts
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (use chilli powder or regular paprika if you don't have this)
• pinch of salt
• 2 green papayas
• 1 - 2 red chillis finely chopped (use as much as you are comfortable with and remove the seeds if you want to limit the heat)
• 1 handful of fresh mint
• 1 handful of fresh cilantro
• juice of 1 large lime

Instructions

• Add the peanuts to a small bowl.
• Add the maple syrup, smoked paprika and a pinch of salt and stir well to coat.
• Heat a small pan over a medium heat.
• Once hot pour in your peanuts and roast over a medium heat for 4 - 5 minutes, shaking them around every minute or two.
• Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
• Cut your papaya in half and remove the seeds with a spoon.
• Shred your papaya into matchstick style pieces or if you have a spiralizer spaghetti type strands are nice.
• Put the papaya pieces in a large bowl.
• Chop your herbs finely and add them to the papaya.
• Add the red chilli.
• Roll the lime hard across the work surface a few times to release the juice a bit before you cut it. Squeeze the lime juice over the salad and stir well to combine.
• Serve with the roasted smoky peanuts sprinkled over the top.

Estimated nutrition per serving:

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 192kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9g | Sodium: 58mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 42% | Vitamin C: 189% | Calcium: 7% | Iron: 9%

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