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    Home » Salad

    Kalisa's Cannery Row Papaya Salad

    Published: Nov 20, 2020 · Modified: Jun 11, 2022 by Poppy Hudson ·

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    I am filled with nostalgia for Kalisa's Cannery Row whenever I make this fresh, gingery mock chicken Papaya Salad. Can you believe the inspiration comes from a recipe I learned over 40 years ago?

    Mock chicken papaya salad with water chestnuts and cilantro-lime dressing.

    Even more astonishing is the flamboyant character who taught me how to make it. That larger-than-life person was none other than the Queen of Cannery Row herself, Kalisa Moore.

    Jump to:
    • Kalisa's restaurant
    • Chef lessons
    • More salad recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    Kalisa's restaurant

    Kalisa opened her first restaurant on Cannery Row in the 1950s during the days of infamous author John Steinbeck. Back then, my grandmother lived a few blocks up the hill from Cannery Row. Thus, she could tell captivating stories about the live music and belly dancers at Kalisa's place. Artists and bohemians clomped across the wooden floors of her establishment, filling chairs and tables into the wee hours.

    By the time I met Kalisa, the belly dancers were gone. The canning era and its remarkable people had all but faded away. But Kalisa was as colorful as ever. When I say colorful, I mean it literally. Not only did Kalisa drive a converted ambulance, but she had painted it bright orange. When she made the 3-mile drive from Cannery Row to Asilomar Beach, you couldn't miss her.

    Perhaps you are wondering though why Kalisa regularly drove to Asilomar Beach? Well, to this day, people mention her name on Cannery Row. But in the shadow of that greatness, there is a back story I suspect few people know. You see, when I knew Kalisa, she had a second restaurant. It was nestled under the wings of the modest Beachcomber Inn that crowns Asilomar Beach.

    Chef lessons

    It just so happens that the first job I held out of high school was cooking for Kalisa at that restaurant. Just like her orange ambulance, you knew when she had entered the building. I always felt a bit of nervousness when she came to check on us. However, she was never phased by my fear. Whether she was instructing me how to tend the 24-hour stockpot on the stove or ladle spoonfuls of homemade garlic oil for the remoulade, it was all done boldly and matter of factly.

    Likewise, the papaya salad I was schooled in seemed daring at the time. I certainly hadn't seen anything like it anywhere else. The juicy combination of sweet papaya, cool chicken, and candied ginger all tossed in the greens struck me from the start. How did she dream it up? It was utterly delicious, and I strove to make each order as much to her specifications as I could.

    Sadly, Kalisa has passed away. I will never know what she might think of my plant-based version made with tofu mock chicken. However, somehow I suspect she would applaud me more than chastise the innovation. After all, I never once saw her give in to convention.

    My cilantro lime dressing is insanely delicious. It compliments beautifully the crisp lettuce, crunchy water chestnuts, savory mock chicken, and sweet, juicy papaya. I know I love the salad as much as ever and will always thank Kalisa for taking me under her wing.

    More salad recipes

    • Sesame & Ginger Rainbow Salad
    • Star Fruit, Celery & Gotu Kola Salad

    Let us know if you try this recipe! Leave a ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and don’t forget to tag a photo #poppyswildkitchenrecipes on Instagram @poppyswildkitchen Aloha!

    📖 Recipe

    Mock chicken papaya salad with water chestnuts and cilantro-lime dressing.

    Kalisa's Cannery Row Papaya Salad

    Gingery Papaya Mock Chicken Salad with water chestnuts and insanely delicious cilantro lime dressing. Inspired by Kalisa, Queen of Cannery Row. Gluten-free and dairy-free.
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    4 Large Salads
    Calories: 432kcal
    Author: Poppy Hudson

    Ingredients

    Cilantro Lime Dressing

    • 6 TB avocado oil
    • 3 TB fresh lime juice
    • ¾ teaspoon salt
    • 1 ½ TB mild honey
    • 1 small clove garlic, finely grated
    • 2 TB sliced cilantro

    Papaya Salad

    • 6 cups torn romaine lettuce
    • 2 cups baby spinach
    • 2 cups vegan chicken strips
    • ⅔ cup sliced water chestnuts
    • 2 cups sliced papaya
    • 1 cup thinly sliced baby Asian cucumber
    • ⅓ cup chopped candied ginger
    • ½ cup sliced green onions
    • 1 lime quartered
    • 2 small thai red chilies, optional

    Instructions

    Cilantro Lime Dressing

    • Place everything except cilantro in a blender. Blend dressing until creamy. Pour into a small jar. Add sliced cilantro and shake to mix.

    Papaya Salad

    • Divide torn romaine and baby spinach between 4 plates. Top with sliced water chestnuts, cucumber, and papaya.
    • Add plant-based chicken strips. Top with sliced green onions and candied ginger. Place a slice of lime on each salad.
    • Pour dressing over salads just before serving. Place a lime wedge on each salad. Garnish with thinly sliced Thai red chili if desired.

    Notes

     
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 432kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 27g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 594mg | Potassium: 608mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 8595IU | Vitamin C: 91mg | Calcium: 224mg | Iron: 3mg
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