Thai Green Papaya Salad with Grilled Shrimp (Som Tam Goong Yang)

Som tam is one of Thailand's most iconic street-food dishes, built on shredded unripe papaya that stays crisp and almost cucumber-like even after it's dressed. The dressing is a fast balance of lime juice, fish sauce, palm sugar, and chili — pounded together traditionally in a mortar and pestle so the green beans and garlic release their flavor into the sauce rather than just floating on top.

Grilled shrimp turns this from a side salad into a full lunch, adding real protein without much extra fat. Between the shrimp and the fresh vegetables, this plate comes in relatively low in carbohydrates and calories while still feeling generous, which makes it a solid choice if you're keeping an eye on portion size without wanting to feel like you're missing out on flavor.