This is very similar to the Laotian papaya salad, but it's with cucumbers instead! Sometimes it's hard to find a good green papaya so cucumbers are a great substitute. This is super refreshing, but still has a spicy kick to it. It's great with sticky rice or vermicelli noodles. Great as any side dish!
Ingredients:
1-2 large Cucumbers
3 Thai Chilis (more or less depending on spice level)
3 cloves of Garlic
1 tbsp Shrimp Paste
1 tbsp of Fish Sauce
2 tbsp of Sugar
12 Cherry Tomatoes halved
1/2 of juice of lime
Instructions:
Peel the cucumber and shred into thin pieces, set aside.
Using a Mortar and Pestle, add in the chili, garlic and shrimp paste and pound until a paste is formed.
Add in the fish sauce, sugar, juice of lime and cherry tomatoes and lightly pound to release the tomato juice and to mix all the ingredients together.
Add in the desired about of cucumber (or enough that will not overflow the mortar, and lightly pound and mix until fully saturated.
Taste and adjust accordingly. It could need more fish sauce, or if you want it more tangy add in more lime etc.
Transfer to a bowl and serve with sticky rice!
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