Published Mar 06, 2010 Updated Sep 15, 2024
What Is Pomelo
Pomelo is a big, citrus fruit from Southeast Asia that looks like a giant grapefruit. It has a thick, green or yellow skin and juicy, sweet-tart flesh inside. Pomelos are known for their mild, sweet flavor that’s less bitter than grapefruits. The fruit is often eaten fresh, used in salads like healthy Pomelo Salad, in dessert such as Mango Pomelo Sago, or incorporated into various dishes for its refreshing taste and texture. It’s also rich in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. Choose a pomelo that feels heavy for its size and has a firm, slightly springy texture. The skin should be smooth and free of blemishes, with a fragrant citrus aroma. Sidenote: To peel a pomelo, cut off the top and bottom first. Then, slice off the thick outer rind in sections, and remove the white pith. Break the fruit into segments and separate the flesh into chunky pieces, as pictured above.
Thai Pomelo Salad Vs. Vietnamese Pomelo Salad
In Thailand, the salad is called Yam Som-O, yam means salad, and som-o is the pomelo fruit. Vietnamese pomelo salad is called Gỏi Bưởi. Both use the pomelo fruit and very similar in the flavors and ingredients. Thai Pomelo Salad is known for its bold and spicy flavors with a more complex dressing that highlights the Thai approach to balancing sweet, sour, salty, and spicy elements. The dressing includes Thai chilies for heat, and toasted coconut is used in the recipe. Vietnamese Pomelo Salad is often made with a combination of pork and shrimp, with a dressing that is a balance of sweet, tangy, and salty. The emphasis is on the fresh herbs such as mint leave and cilantro leaves and a lighter dressing. Both salads are refreshing and highlight the versatility of the pomelo fruit, but they offer different taste experiences based on their regional ingredients and flavor profiles.
Why You’ll Love Pomelo Salad
You’ll love pomelo salad for its refreshing, vibrant flavor and the fruity burst of freshness in every bite. It’s absolutely delicious, just like Thai cucumber salad.
Unique flavor: It combines sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors that are truly different from your usual salads. Great texture: The mix of juicy pomelo, crunchy French bean, crispy shallot crisps and nuts makes each bite exciting. Taste of Thailand: You don’t have to travel to Southeast Asia to taste it, making it at home brings a tropical touch to your dining table. Customizable taste: You can adjust the saltiness, sweetness, and spiciness to match your taste perfectly. Make a statement: Impress your friends with your culinary repertoire by serving them a delicious pomelo salad!
Ingredients
My simple Pomelo Salad is inspired by the ones I enjoyed on a beach in Pattaya, Thailand. I love its clean, vibrant, and citrusy taste—refreshingly bright with just a hint of heat from the chilies, and perfectly balanced with sweet, sour, salty, and spicy notes. Here are the list of ingredients:
Pomelo Poached shrimp Toasted coconut – Dry-toast the desiccated coconut flakes in a skillet over medium-low heat until they turn light brown. Be sure to stir frequently to prevent burning, as the flakes can burn quickly. French beans Thai chilies and red chilies Roasted cashew nuts or peanuts Fish sauce Lime juice Sugar Fried shallots
Recipe Variation: To make Vietnamese style Pomelo salad, take out French beans from the ingredients. Add chopped mint leaves and cilantro leaves to the salad, also opt out chilies from the salad dressing.
How To Make Thai Pomelo Salad
In Thailand, this salad is served mostly at sit-down type of restaurants; it is not a common street food like Pad Thai or Green Papaya Salad (Som Tam). Though hugely popular in Thailand, it is rarely found on the menus of Thai restaurants outside the kingdom. This makes it all the more reason to learn how to make this unique and delicious salad at home. Sidenote: Like most traditional Thai salads, this dish should be eaten immediately after it’s tossed. That’s when the flavors reach their peak before quickly declining.
Helpful Tips
Here are some helpful kitchen tips for first-time cooks making pomelo salad:
Use fresh ingredients: Choose ripe pomelo, fresh shrimp, and crisp French beans for the best flavor. Ensure the roasted cashew nuts or peanuts are fresh and not rancid. Poaching shrimp: The best way to poach shrimp is in simmering, not boiling, water. The temperature should be between 160° and 180°F (71–82°C). Be sure not to overcook the shrimp. Adjust dressing to taste: Balance the flavors by adjusting the sweetness, sourness, and spice in the dressing to your preference. If the pomelo is tart and bitter, add more sugar to the dressing. Careful substitutions: Avoid substituting lemon juice for lime juice, soy sauce for fish sauce, or sweet coconut flakes for plain desiccated coconut. Properly peeled pomelo: Cut off the rind and remove any pith before breaking the fruit into bite-sized pieces. For convenience, you can buy pre-peeled pomelo at the market.
What To Serve With Pomelo Salad
For a wholesome homemade Thai meal, I recommend pairing the salad with the following Thai recipes. I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
Other Salad Recipes You Might Like
Fruit Salad Watermelon Salad Prawn Salad with Peach
