This naturally gluten free Thai Cucumber Carrot Salad is a North American version of the famous Som Tai. Traditionally made with green papaya this version uses readily available cucumber and carrot. They give the salad its’ desired crunchy texture and the sauce, made with lime juice and fish sauce, makes it uniquely Thai.

This salad can be part of any Thai meal. When feeding a large crowd Thai cooks simply add more dishes increasing the possibilities for more unique flavour combinations. This salad is a fabulous contrast to creamy Yellow Chicken Curry. If you're ready to make an entire feast check out this post, Thai Dinner Club menu.
Ingredients
Thai cooking is all about the balance, sweet and sour with hot and salty. The dishes are all served together and complement each other in a harmonious layering of flavour upon flavour. Typically diners combine any of the dishes and condiments on their own plate to achieve the desired taste.
- garlic
- lime juice
- fish sauce
- sugar
- Thai bird chiles - Buy these fresh and keep them in the freezer. They can be chopped or grated from frozen.
- long English cucumber
- carrot
See recipe card for exact amounts.
Substitutions
Fish sauce - This ingredient is essential for Thai cuisine and is used in almost every dish. For anyone who can't eat fish make this vegan fish sauce substitute and you can all enjoy Thai cuisine.
Top Tip
Make this salad. It is so simply yet people ask for this recipe, seriously!
A Travel Tale from Thailand
From time to time I write a travel post for my friend Sue over at Travel Tales of Life. In this post, Thai Red Shrimp Curry, I wrote about our adventures in Thailand many years ago.

Thai Cucumber Carrot Salad
Ingredients
- 1 garlic clove, minced traditionally mashed to a paste
- 2 tablespoon fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
- 1½ tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 Thai bird chile*, sliced and seeded (or jalapeno or serrano chile)
- 1 long English cucumber, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced
- 1 carrot, coarsely shredded
OPTIONAL
- soft-leaf lettuce for serving
Instructions
- In a bowl stir together garlic, lime juice, fish sauce sugar and chile until sugar is dissolved.
- Add cucumber and carrot to garlic mixture. Toss well.
- Serve as part of a Thai meal or make individual portions serving some in soft-lettuce cups.
Notes
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Anita
This was excellent (even without the garlic that I forgot)!
Cinde Little
Thanks for letting me know Anita. It's such a simple dish yet I have been asked for this specific recipe, right at the dining room table, many times. I hope you'll try it again, with the garlic. 🙂
Leona Hawryluk
So refreshing and tasty. Will be a staple in my kitchen.
Cinde Little
I'm glad it's a winner for you Leona. I always say this recipe is greater than the sum of it's parts. Refreshing year round and super simple. I'm sure you're going to get that bottle of fish sauce today.
Joanne
This is a great light tasting salad and is great for hot summer days. So yummy
Cinde Little
Agreed! This is one of those recipes that is greater than the sum of it's parts. Super simple and refreshing. I'm glad you liked it!