Vietnamese papaya salad with beef jerky

As Tet (Vietnamese New Year) is approaching, I started thinking about the festival and all the food stands that we’ll be sampling from next weekend.  Every year, I would get the same dish--green papaya salad with shredded beef jerky  (goi du du voi kho bo).  

Papaya salad is a quintessential street food of Vietnam.  When you’re in Saigon, you’ll see plenty of street stalls serving a constant stream of motorbike customers and pedestrians looking for a quick refreshing snack.  No tables.  No chairs.  Just people at curbside munching on their plates of green papaya salad.  

There are three different versions--papaya salad with shrimp and pork, with dried beef liver, and with beef jerky.  Papaya salad with dried beef liver and beef jerky are the most common among street vendors.  

I was salivating just thinking about it and couldn't really wait for next weekend.  Luckily my mom was already at a Vietnamese supermarket so I asked her to pick up a green papaya.  Both versions of papaya salad with shrimp and pork and papaya salad with beef jerky are my favorite.  I was too impatient to cook anything and went with the latter.  I love the combination of crunch and a hint of heat in this salad.  My craving is satisfied for the moment.