Green Papaya Salad

Larry’s favorite...nothing more to be said.

ingredients

5 cloves garlic
Thai peppers to taste, minced (substitute red chili sauce, to taste)
4 tablespoons lime juice
4 tablespoons fish sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
1 medium green papaya, julienned (see note)
1/2 cup long beans, cut into 2-inch pieces (substitute green beans, blanched for 30 seconds and chilled)
10 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup roasted peanuts, chopped

1
Using mortar and pestle, crush garlic, peppers or pepper sauce, lime juice, fish sauce and sugar to a paste. Add to large bowl.
2
In large handfuls, add green papaya to mortar and use pestle to lightly bruise to soften; add to bowl. Lightly bruise beans; add to bowl. Add tomatoes and peanuts to bowl. Combine and serve, or let sit for up to an hour in refrigerator.
3
Note: Make sure what you buy is a green papaya and not a ripe papaya. Green papayas are generally only available at Asian grocers. Peel the papaya and use a mandolin, Kom-Kom Miracle Zig Zag or sharp knife to julienne the flesh.

Source: Tom & Kristen