Thai Coleslaw Recipe aka Green Papaya-less Salad

Can’t find fresh green papaya? This spicy Thai-inspired coleslaw recipe uses bagged coleslaw mix to recreate Som Tum’s bold, crunchy, salty-sour flavor without the green papaya. Ready in 10 minutes. It’s crunchy, salty and spicy and I swear that it will cure whatever ails you.

Thai coleslaw inspired by Green Papaya Salad. Recipe and photo by Sonoran cookbook author Jackie Alpers
Green Papaya-less Salad Recipe | Thai Coleslaw
Can't find green papaya? This spicy Thai-inspired coleslaw uses bagged coleslaw mix to recreate Som Tum's bold, crunchy, salty-sour flavor. Ready in 10 minutes. I swear that it will cure whatever ails you.

Ingredients

  • One bag of pre-shredded coleslaw mix. Either with or without carrots.
  • 5 Grape Tomatoes or other cherry sized tomatoes halved
  • 1 or 2 Thai Chilies - you can substitute with a Serrano chili if necessary
  • 2 tsp. sugar
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 ⅓ T. Thai Fish Sauce -available at most supermarkets or From Thai Kitchen online.
  • 3 Mexican/Key Limes or 1 regular sized lime
  • 2 T. Peanuts chopped - optional if you are allergic.
  • 1 T. Dried Shrimp or 1/4 c. salad shrimp (optional)

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, gently pound the garlic and tomatoes with a meat mallet or the back of a large spoon.  Be careful not to hit the tomatoes too hard or they will splatter and hit you in the eye. The idea is to bruise the tomatoes so that you release their juices, not smash them to bits. Add all of the other ingredients and mix well.
Course Main Course, Salad
Cuisine Thai
Keyword Jackie Alpers, spicy thai coleslaw recipe

 

 

 

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The Unofficial Yellowstone Cookbook Cover
cover of The Unofficial Elf Cookbook by Jackie Alpers. Treat every day like Christmas with recipes inspired by the classic film "Elf".
The Unofficial Elf Cookbook by Jackie Alpers
Food photography by Alpers of loaded hot dogs is an American Photography 41 winner.
Jackie Alpers 2025 World Food Photography Awards for Food Influencer and Food in the Field
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