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Epicurious
Gourmet

Cucumber Carrot Salad

3.4

(8)

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

From northeastern Thailand, som tai is a salad Thais and farangs-the Thai name for foreigners-have come to love. It is traditionally made with grated green (unripe) papaya that is pounded slightly to soften the fibers before being tossed with lime juice, dried shrimp, and chilies. As the availability of green papaya in the United States is limited, we used cucumber and carrot. We also left out the dried shrimp in order to create a more delicate but still delicious dish.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 6

Ingredients

1 garlic clove, minced and mashed to a paste
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 1/2 tablespoons Asian fish sauce (preferably naam pla)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 fresh Thai or serrano chili, or to taste, seeded and minced (wear rubber gloves)
2 seedless cucumbers, quartered lengthwise, seeded, and cored
1 carrot, shredded coarse
soft-leafed lettuce for serving

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a bowl stir together garlic paste, lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, and chili until sugar is dissolved.

    Step 2

    Thinly slice cucumbers crosswise and add to garlic mixture with carrot. Toss salad well. Salad may be made 4 hours ahead and kept chilled, covered, but cucumber will wilt and give off liquid.

    Step 3

    Serve salad in lettuce "cups."

TagsSaladSalad DressingThai ChileChileVegetableSerrano ChileCucumberCarrotRoot VegetableLettuceLeafy GreensLimeCitrusFruitGarlicSideStarterDinnerDairy FreeNut FreeVegetarianVeganEasyQuickNo-CookGourmet
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