Vietnamese Papaya Salad – a Tasty Seasonal Treat

Papaya is a hugely popular fruit in Southeast Asia but isn’t commonly used in Western cooking, so for many this dish will provide a welcome novelty. This salad mixes savory and sweet by adding cashews and garlic chips to the papaya. A very easy – and very welcome – change of pace from the typical salad routine.

Because Vietnamese cooking traditionally uses fish as a base, the chef adds a small portion of fish sauce as part of the dressing. But you can easily replace this sauce with an equal serving of rice vinegar to keep it strictly vegetarian.

Salads made from cooked and raw ingredients can provide the nutrients that are so vital to good health and daily function. In this recipe book, you’ll find more than 250 salad recipes-made from a variety of items including greens, whole grains, beans, pasta, chicken, fruit, and eggs-that are easy to make, full of flavor, and economical. Just adjust the ones with meat to be totally vegetarian and you are all set!