Spicy Papaya Salad contains, a tropical and exotic fruit, that is extremely high in Vitamin C , vitamin A and Folate, all the ingredients needed to boost the immunity during this seasonal pollen allergy time. One serving of Papaya contains 224% of Vitamin C, according to http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=47 . Papaya originally a Latin American fruit is not easily found appetizing by many. So when I came across this recipe in salad form, it was tempted to try out!. The ingredients of lemon, ginger and chillies reminded me of Thai cuisine and I varied with some roasted peanut powder addition to it. This gave some additional crunch to the salad. The lemon dilutes the heavy musk taste of Papaya. In my childhood days, we used to eat ripe Papaya with sugar and ghee. Raw Papaya was made with green chillies and turmeric and salt and was knows as Kaccha Papaya Sambhar. This is one of the favorite of the various fresh sambhars( in lieu of pickles) made in Jain families. Often green papaya sambhar is served with fafda gathiyas, speciality of my hometown Rajkot. I am a bit nostalgic writing about Fafda Gathiyas as that is something one truly does not get anywhere else, not even in Mumbai. I believe it has something to do with the water in Rajkot. This salad recipe of Papaya is quite delicious with the spice of chillies and ginger and tangy taste from lemons. With this salad form, it is much easier to eat this highly beneficial fruit more often and take advantage of its special digestive enzymes and assisting in reducing cholesterol buildup in arteries. Additionally it boosts vision too, and that too without consuming carrots! Enjoy this as a salad, or finely dice it to create a salsa recipe!
Recipe make for 3-4 people salad serving
Prep Time 10 min
Ingredients[shopeat_button]
- 4 cups of cubed papaya about 1 inch in size
- 1 tsp finely diced ginger
- 1 tsp finely chopped kashmiri spicy green chillies
- 2 tbsp lemon
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup chopped coriander
- 2 tbsp peanut powder
- salt to taste( preferably sea salt)
- 3/4 cup thinly sliced red onion(optional)
- 1 tbsp sugar (optional)
Method
- Mix everything just before serving.
TIps
If you like sugar, 1 tbsp of sugar gives slightly rounded flavour, as sugar binds in all the flavours.
Jain Version – omit onions and ginger and increase the peanut powder by two tbsp and green chillies by 1 tsp.
Instinct Factor
Papayas need to be well ripened, in order to get the full flavour of salad. If in the mood of salsa, finely dice it and variate with habanero peppers or jalapeno peppers. Adjust the quantity depending on how spicy are the chillies/peppers you are using.
Feel Factor
Spicy Papaya Salad Feels Thai, feels fresh, feels spicy, colorful and a delectable way of eating Papayas! This can easily be a lunch menu too!! 
