Mouthwatering Food: unearth exotic ingredients

Cuisine: Lao Prep time: 20 min(s) Servings: 4 as a side Created by Sourina Simmalavong

This dish can be eaten by itself as a snack or served with other dishes as part of a meal. While some Lao households make their own padaek, if you want to buy it ready-made, try the Thai Budu or Filipino Monamon brands. In keeping with the Lao way, prepare this dish just before serving, and not in advance

Ingredients
1 green papaya, peeled
1 tsp salt
6 red birdseye chillies
2 tbsp white sugar, or to taste
1 garlic clove (optional)
1 tbsp Thai shrimp paste
2–3 snake beans cut into 2 cm pieces, or 3–4 small Asian eggplant, cut into thin wedges, or
2–3 chopped garlic leaves, to serve (optional)
125 g cherry tomatoes, halved
juice of 2 large limes or 2 small lemons, or to taste
1–2 tbsp padaek (fermented fish sauce)
1 tsp Thai fish sauce

white cabbage wedges or sprigs of young morning glory and pork crackers, to serve Food Safari SBS Style