Green Papaya Salad with Seared Scallops

Went to the asian market and found some really green papaya. This recipe for green papaya salad came from Gourmet. I bought some sea scallops from the local grocery store, pan-seared them, and served them on top of the papaya salad.

For sambal belacan
2 tsp belacan (shrimp paste)
3 (5 1/2-inch) fresh Holland red chiles*, sliced, including seeds
1/2 tsp sugar

For salad
1/4 oz small dried shrimp* (1 tablespoon)
1/4 tsp salt
2 shallots, thinly sliced crosswise (1/4 cup)
1 (1 1/2-lb) piece green papaya* or 1 1/2 lb seedless cucumber (1 to 2; usually plastic-wrapped)
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 1/2 teaspoons sugar
Make sambal belacan: Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350F.

Wrap belacan tightly in foil and bake 10 minutes. Open foil carefully and cool belacan to room temperature, about 15 minutes. Crumble belacan into mini food processor and finely purée with chiles and sugar. I open foil outside on the patio so that the house doesn't smell of belacan.

Make salad:
Soak shrimp in 1 cup hot water in a bowl until soft, about 10 minutes.

While shrimp soak, stir together salt and 1 cup cold water until salt is dissolved, then add shallot and soak 5 minutes. Drain shallot in a sieve and pat dry.

Drain shrimp in a colander and pat dry. Pulse shrimp in cleaned mini processor until finely ground.

Peel, halve, and seed papaya (or cucumber). Cut into large pieces, then cut into 1/8-inch-thick matchsticks with slicer.

Stir together lime juice, sugar, and 1 tablespoon sambal belacan in a large serving bowl until sugar is dissolved. Add shrimp, shallot, and papaya, tossing to combine well.

Sambal belacan keeps, covered and chilled, 3 months.

Note: Served this as a side dish to chicken satay and pad thai noodles. This was an unusual way to serve green papaya salad and the sambal added a kick to this dish. I liked the seared scallops with the salad as a change from the sliced beef or shrimp that were usually served with this dish too. This recipes makes enough for 8 side servings. If you can't find green papayas in your neighbourhood, you can substitute with shredded or julienned carrots, cucumber or zucchini. Or a combination of all that would be like and refreshing!