Everywhere I look everyone’s getting into the Christmas spirit, the trees are up, tinsel is scattered throughout every building, there’s spiced cookies here, eggnog and Christmas cake there, Santa sitting waiting for photos to be taken in the malls and super excited kids everywhere I turn. I’ve never been crazy big into the whole palaver that goes with Christmas. I love spending time with family, that’s a given, but it’s never been the whole traditional thing around our house and I really don’t feel 99% of the kids I know need anymore toys, or stuff in general. So one could say that I’m just a teeny bit excited that this year we are going to completely miss out on the whole shebang that is Christmas, cause… we’re going to Vietnam on Monday! While most people are looking forward to pigging out on trifle, pavlova and berries, me- I’m just hanging out for banh xeo and rice paper rolls!
Taking the kids to Vietnam is something we’ve been promising them their whole lives and for the past 3 years we’ve also been promising their great-grandmother, who just casually celebrated her 100th birthday over in Vietnam yesterday (along with my mum too, Happy Birthday mum!). She’s been asking us to take the kids over to meet her for ages, but sadly the timing has just never worked out until now. The last time Si and I were in Vietnam, nearly 9 years ago, I was amazed by this beautiful little old lady who’s stories were etched deeply into her face and I can only imagine what it’s going to be like to see her once again.
So, I’m sorry in advance if you were looking for Christmas-y type recipes today (you can find loads of links within this post from last year, and a recipe for gluten-free spiced chocolate chunk cookies too… if you really are just looking for that kinda thing), cause all I have on my mind right now are the flavours of South East Asia! Our mangoes are growing nicely and fingers crossed the winds stay away over the next month so they all stay on the trees this year! While ours are still a little way away from eating size, I have been buying a few green mangoes at the shops lately, much to my kids delight! Green is how mangoes are sold in Vietnam, never ripe. The locals, and my children, eat them thinly sliced with either chilli salt or fish sauce mixed with a little sugar to dip into for a little snack. While the kids can’t get enough of eating it this way, me, I prefer to make it into salad, a vegan variation of the traditional shredded salad of South East Asia. This style of salad is probably more commonly known using green papaya, but if you are lucky enough to get your hands on green mango, this is my favourite version hands down. I’ve confessed my love of this salad before, but there really is something mildly addictive about all that salty, sweet, sour and spicy that keeps me wanting for more. I can guarantee many, many bowlfuls of the stuff will be consumed over the two weeks we’ll be in Vietnam!
Adios friends. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!
Much love xx Emm
p.s if you wanna see some pics from our trip, I’m sure I’ll be posting a few (hundred or so) over on Instagram while we’re away! Follow if you wanna have a nosey.
Recipe adapted from my green papaya salad in the archives.
vegan green mango salad
I’ve made this recipe per serve as my mortar and pestle is only big enough to hold 1 serving. You can double or triple the recipe if you have a really large mortar & pestle, or simply make each serving as required. The beauty of doing each serve means that you can tailor to individual tastes, adjusting chilli and adding less or more peanuts etc. Unrefined raw sugar can be used in place of palm sugar if desired and of course if you are not gluten-free, just use regular soy-sauce, opting for a light one like kikkoman though. I use a mandolin shredder, but you can also grate the mango, julienne by hand with a sharp knife or use a julienne peeler, like the one seen in this post. If you have ever had any reactions to the sap/skin/seeds of mangoes, please wear gloves when peeling and preparing the green mango. As Amanda kindly mentioned in the comments, many people come out in welts and rashes (including my daughter) if they come into contact with the skin/sap/seed.
per serve…
1-2 birds eye chilli
1 small clove garlic
1/4 cup roasted unsalted peanuts
1-2 teaspoons finely grated pure palm sugar or brown rice syrup, to taste
1 cup finely shredded green mango
4 cherry tomatoes
4 sugar snap peas, trimmed and thinly sliced (or use lengths of green beans for a more traditional take)
1-2 teaspoons gluten-free soy sauce, to taste
the juice of 1-2 limes (or lemons), to taste
sea salt, to taste
In a mortar & pestle grind together the chilli, garlic, peanuts and sugar. Add green mango, cherry tomatoes and green beans and bruise lightly with the pestle while using a spoon to scrape the sides of the mortar and mix everything. Add soy sauce and lime juice to taste. You are looking for a beautiful combination of salty, sweet and sour, so add more palm sugar, lime/lemon juice, or sea salt, as needed. Scoop out into a bowl and serve immediately.
32 Responses
This salad rocks!! Love all the fun flavours ๐
Have a fabulous time in Vietnam! And enjoy all that wonderful food – you must have cafe sua da while you're there.. It's this amazing coffee that they do – it's made with condensed milk and is one of my most favourite things on the whole world! Great looking salad, by the way…
Thanks Skye, I don't drink coffee but Si loves a good condensed-milk-sweetened Vietnamese one so I'm sure he'll consumed enough for the both of us! ๐
Love the idea of mango slaw. Mangos are one of Thom's favorite fruits so I'll have to keep this in mind when they're back in season. And how exciting for your little ones – best XMAS present ever? I think so. We're planning on going to Vietnam one day, but until then I'll just live vicariously through you. ๐
I will be living vicariously through you the next few weeks,damn now I have to sign up to instagram!!:)What a wonderful xmas present to give your kids!!Have a safe trip.
See you on instagram my lovely ๐ -I'll probably post most of my instagram shots to twitter too, if you don't want to actually join the instagram madness! xx
when we do get mangos around these parts they're already on their way to ripe. i do adore having them snappy green dipped in fish sauce.
enjoy your trip to Vietnam, safe travels!
Thanks Lan! Perth is the only place (other than South East Asia) where I've been able to get my hands on green mangoes. If only more people realised their beauty!
I love green papaya salad, love this idea of a different twist on it! I'll have to see if I can turn up any green mangos around here…any excuse to go produce hunting!
This recipe is such a lovely change from all the (equally as lovely) Christmas cookie/treats recipes out there! I love the photos as well, Emma, so beautiful!
Thanks Lindsey! xx
This looks great, but what ripeness should the mango be? Do you mean 'green' as in, hard as a rock and not ripe, or 'green' as opposed to the little gold ones?
Yep I mean green on the inside as well as outside. They are fully formed but not yet ripe on the inside, so are perfect for grating and using in salads such as this.
You're going to have such an amazing trip – how wonderful to be able to introduce your children to their family history and heritage. Can't wait to see the pics and hear about all the delicious food that you guys eat! xo
I love this salad and leap on a green mango when I see one! How lucky you are to escape for Christmas. Something I have been threatening to do for as long as I can remember.
This looks gorgeous! I love green mango and just posted a green mango recipe too. Us Indians also eat slices of it with chilli powder and salt-yum! This salad looks totally addictive.
Have a lovely time in Vietnam!
Thanks Deepa! I'm guessing you also make green mango chutney with them too? One of my other favourite things to do with them ๐
Have a wonderful holiday with your whanau in Vietnam – how special to see your children's 100 yr old great grandmother! Look forward to some more Vietnamese inspired recipes when you get back! Last summer I bought a green papaya in Kerikeri when on holiday up north. Such a treat….they are really hard to get hold of down here in Wellington.
That's awesome you managed to even get your hands on one at all in NZ! I've never seen them back home at all and have tried to scheme up ways for us to grow a tree when we move home. We might have to move to Kerikeri by the sounds of it! ๐
Or at least get the odd box sent down to Raglan! ๐
Ooohhh Vietnam! Lucky you! Love Som Tam, will give it a try with green mango… Sonja
How great to have your own mango tree. We've got an avocado tree and had about 80 this year, would love a mango tree. I'm a keen gardener, so love the pic with the mangoes on the tree.
Oh wow you lucky thing! I grew up with avocado trees at our house and I miss them terribly. Homegrown avocados taste a million times better than any I've ever bought from the store.
Remember to wear gloves! I welt up when I touch green mangoes – they're apparently related to poison ivy, especially dangerous for types-like-me around the skin and the seed ๐
Thanks for the yum vegan recipe and happy travels xx
(PS. There's a tree down the hill ready for this salad Yay!)
Ah yes good call Amanda! I'm okay handling them without gloves, but yes I forgot to mention that many people react to them (will add to the recipe headnotes now, thank you!), including my daughter if she goes anywhere near the skin. xx
Vietnam! Sigh…
Have a wonderful trip Emm XO
I so adore this salad too and can get green mangoes readily art the markets and Asian grocery shops. I've not tried it without fish sauce though, so I'm interested to see how it goes for my vegan clients. Happy holidays, and have a wonderful time indeed! X
Thanks love! Happy holidays to you and your family too xxx
have a wonderful, safe, and exciting trip, my dear! i cannot wait to see photos and read about your adventure (and the food that you eat!!)
this salad is gorgeous. if only i could find mangoes up here in the icy tundra!
have a very merry christmas and a happy new year!!
xxx
That recipe looks magic! Mangoes really do signal summer to me. Robyn xx
have a fantastic trip. This salad sounds delicious.
This salad looks so good and refreshing!! ๐ Love your blog and beautiful food photos and recipes. Have a wonderful new year! ๐