Goi Du Du Tom (Green Papaya and Prawn Salad)
A crunchy, cooling green papaya salad with prawns, herbs and crisp shallots, dressed in a lively sweet and sour sauce.
Made with Nuoc cham (Vietnamese dipping sauce). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time30 mins
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.05 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oil in a small pan over a medium heat. Fry the shallots for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring, until golden and crisp. Lift out onto kitchen paper.
4 min 30 s - 2
Bring a pan of water to the boil. Cook the prawns for 2 minutes until pink and opaque all the way through, then drain and cool under cold water.
2 min - 3
Soak the shredded papaya and carrot in iced water for 10 minutes to crisp them up, then drain and shake dry.
10 min - 4
Toss the papaya, carrot, prawns, mint, coriander and chilli in a large bowl with your ready made nuoc cham (see the base recipe).
- 5
Leave for 5 minutes so the papaya softens slightly. Taste and add a squeeze of lime if you like it sharper.
- 6
Pile onto a platter and scatter over the crisp shallots and sesame seeds. Serve straight away.
Tips
- Green papaya is sold in Asian supermarkets. If you cannot find it, use shredded kohlrabi, firm cucumber or extra carrot.
- Use a julienne peeler or box grater for even strands.
- Dress it just before serving or the salad becomes watery.
Storing and freezing
Eat on the day. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 1 day but lose their crunch. Do not freeze.
Questions
Can I make this without prawns?
Yes. Use shredded poached chicken breast or sliced boiled pork instead. Keep it chilled until serving.
Where do I buy green papaya?
Asian grocers often sell it fresh or shredded in the chiller. Make sure it is hard and green, not the ripe orange fruit.
Is this salad gluten free?
Yes, provided your fish sauce is gluten free. It is also dairy free, egg free and nut free.
More made with nuoc cham (vietnamese dipping sauce)
Vietnamese Tofu Summer Rolls with Satay Dipping Sauce
DFEFThai Red Curry Chicken Wings with Lime Dipping Sauce
GFDFEFCha Trung Hap (Vietnamese Steamed Pork and Egg Loaf)
GFDFNFThai Green Curry Chicken Burgers with Cucumber Slaw
GFDFEFSee every dish made with nuoc cham (vietnamese dipping sauce)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.