CHICKEN AND GREEN PAPAYA SALAD

Chicken and Green Papaya Salad image

Yield Makes 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

Chicken:
4 small skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 1 pound total)
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
Vegetable oil (for grilling)
Salad and assembly:
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon fish sauce
1/2 large green papaya and/or 2 green mangoes, julienned
1/2 medium cucumber, peeled, julienned
1 small daikon (Japanese white radish), peeled, julienned
1 medium carrot, peeled, julienned
6 scallions, julienned
1 Fresno chile, with seeds, finely chopped
Kosher salt
Banana blossom petals (for serving; optional)
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Steps:

Chicken:
Rub chicken with soy sauce, sugar, and five-spice powder; season with salt and pepper. Let sit at least 1 hour.
Prepare grill for medium-high heat and oil grate. Grill chicken, turning often and being careful not to char, until cooked through, 5-8 minutes total. Let cool, then shred.
DO AHEAD: Chicken can be seasoned 1 day ahead of grilling; cover and chill. Chicken can be cooked 1 day ahead; cover and chill.
Salad and assembly:
Whisk garlic, lime juice, sugar, and fish sauce in a large bowl. Add shredded grilled chicken, papaya, cucumber, daikon, carrot, scallions, and chile to bowl; season with salt and toss to coat.
Serve salad on banana blossom petals, if using, sprinkled with sesame seeds.