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Thai papaya salad, also called Som Tam or Som Tum, is a popular and delicious salad made with shredded green papaya and has a mix of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy tastes. Learn how to make this green papaya salad, and where to find the ingredients in this recipe guide.
Papaya Salad
Papaya Salad, or Som Tum (sometimes spelled Som Tam), is a quintessential Thai dish. I first savored its authentic flavors in Hat Yai, a bustling town in Southern Thailand. Widely hailed as Thailand’s national dish, Som Tum traces its origins to Isan (also spelled Isaan or Esarn), the northeastern region of Thailand.
In Thai, “Som” translates to “sour” and “Tum” to “pound” or “to pound,” reflecting the traditional preparation method of pounding ingredients together in a Thai wooden mortar and pestle. The rhythmic pounding of peanuts, garlic, and other ingredients is a captivating sound that always fills me with excitement and anticipation as I wait eagerly for my serving from the street vendor.
Som Tum embodies the essence of Thai cuisine: a harmonious blend of hot, sour, salty, and sweet flavors, just like my other Thai favorites: Tom Yum Soup, Pad Thai and Green Curry.
What Is Green Papaya
Green papaya, the unripe version of papaya, is prized for its firm and crisp texture, making it perfect for salads where it can absorb flavors well. Its taste is mild and slightly sweet, resembling cucumber.
Green papaya’s mild, slightly sweet taste and firm texture make it versatile for various dishes beyond salads, including stir-fries and soups.
Where To Buy Green Papaya?
In regions with a tropical or subtropical climate, you may be able to grow green papayas in your own garden. They require warm temperatures and well-drained soil, which is how many Thai and Laotian families obtain their supply of green papayas.
Shopping Guide: In the United States, you can find fresh whole green papayas at Asian supermarkets, typically in the produce section alongside other tropical fruits or in a section dedicated to Southeast Asian ingredients. Additionally, some Asian supermarkets offer pre-shredded green papaya, convenient for quickly preparing Som Tam. It’s also available occasionally at farmers’ markets and specialty grocery stores, in areas with a significant Southeast Asian community, for example: Hmong Farmers Markets in Minneapolis-St. Paul and the central valley of California.
Ingredients For Thai Papaya Salad
- Green papaya – used as the base of the salad.
- Long green beans – adds a crisp texture and slightly nutty flavor.
- Cherry tomatoes – adds a burst of sweetness and color to the salad.
- Fish sauce – adds depth of flavor and umami to the salad.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
Recipe Variations
Papaya salad, known by various names such as Som Tam in Thailand, Thum Mak Hoong in Laos, Bok L’hong in Cambodia, and Gỏi Đu Đủ in Vietnam, is popular across the Indochina region of Southeast Asia. Each country has its own unique version of this salad, incorporating local ingredients and flavors while sharing similarities in its refreshing and often spicy profile. Here are some of the most popular renditions in Thailand and they are found across the different regions in Thailand:
- Som Tam Thai: The classic version described above, made with regular fish sauce.
- Som Tam Poo: Includes small fermented crabs.
- Som Tam Isaan or Som Tam Pla Ra: made fermented fish sauce and black mud crabs.
- Som Tam Kai Kem: Includes salted duck eggs.
Helpful Tips For Home Cooks
Here are five simple tips for making green papaya salad at home:
- Choose the Right Papaya: Pick a firm, green papaya. It should be hard and green, not soft or yellow.
- Adjust Spiciness: Start with a little bit of Thai bird’s eye chili and add more if you want it spicier.
- Prepare Ingredients Early: Shred the papaya and make the dressing ahead of time. Mix everything together just before serving.
- Balance Flavors: Taste the dressing before adding it to the salad. Make sure it’s balanced with sweet, sour (lime juice), salty (fish sauce), and spicy flavors.
- Add Crunch: Sprinkle crushed peanuts on top for a crunchy texture. Optionally, garnish with fresh herbs like cilantro or Thai basil.
Following these tips will help you make a delicious green papaya salad at home!
How To Make Thai Papaya Salad
Step 1: Pound the garlic and bird’s eye chilies until they form a smooth paste.
Step 2: Add the dried shrimp and pound until the pieces are broken up, but not completely pulverized.
Step 3: Add the palm sugar (cut into small pieces), maybe 2-3 teaspoons at first. More to taste later.
Step 4: Add the peanuts and lightly pound them until they are broken into tiny pieces, but be careful not to crush them into a thick paste.
Step 5: Add the green beans and crush them with the mortar until they’re splitting and lightly bruised.
Step 6: Add the papaya and tomatoes, then pound them gently to bruise them. The goal is to crush the tomatoes slightly so they release their juices, enhancing both flavor and color.
Step 7: Add a couple of teaspoons of fish sauce and a couple of teaspoons of lime juice to the mix.
Step 8: Have a large spoon in one hand to help flip things over and scrape down the sides of the mortar, while using your other hand to pound away with the pestle.
Step 9: Continue pounding and flipping for a few seconds. Add more fish sauce, lime juice, or palm sugar as needed.
Step 10: Dish out and serve immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this recipe is healthy and good for you because papaya is filled with nutrients, making it a great source of vitamins as well as healthy fiber. It is also full of enzymes that boost digestive health. This unripe green papaya is actually even healthier, as it contains even more of its natural enzymes.
This specific recipe is not vegetarian, due to the use of dried shrimp and fish sauce. However, it is easily made into a vegetarian or even vegan dish if you take out these two ingredients.
Freshly shredded green papaya should be eaten on the same day it’s prepared. I don’t recommend freezing or storing in the refrigerator as the texture will not be desirable.
Thai papaya salad is extremely light, with only 209 calories per serving.
What To Serve With Papaya Salad
Thai green papaya salad is often served as a side dish alongside grilled meats, seafood, or sticky rice. For a wholesome Thai meal at home, I recommend the following recipes:
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Other Recipes You Might Like
Green Papaya Salad
Ingredients
- 1 clove garlic
- 1-2 red Thai bird’s eye chilies
- 2 tablespoons dried shrimp
- Thai palm sugar, to taste
- 1/4 cup roasted peanuts
- 6 oz (170g) green papaya strands
- 6 cherry tomatoes , or grape tomatoes
- 1/3 cup long green beans, cut into 1-inch (2.5cm) lengths
- fresh lime juice , to taste
- fish sauce , to taste
Instructions
- Pound the garlic and bird’s eye chilies until they form a smooth paste.
- Add the dried shrimp and pound until the pieces are broken up, but not completely pulverized.
- Add the palm sugar (cut into small pieces), maybe 2-3 teaspoons at first. More to taste later.
- Add the peanuts and lightly pound them until they are broken into tiny pieces, but be careful not to crush them into a thick paste.
- Add the green beans and crush them with the mortar until they’re splitting and lightly bruised.
- Add the papaya and tomatoes, then pound them gently to bruise them. The goal is to crush the tomatoes slightly so they release their juices, enhancing both flavor and color.
- Add a couple of teaspoons of fish sauce and a couple of teaspoons of lime juice to the mix.
- Have a large spoon in one hand to help flip things over and scrape down the sides of the mortar, while using your other hand to pound away with the pestle.
- Continue pounding and flipping for a few seconds. Add more fish sauce, lime juice, or palm sugar as needed.
- Dish out and serve immediately.
Notes
- Choose the Right Papaya: Pick a firm, green papaya. It should be hard and green, not soft or yellow.
- Adjust Spiciness: Start with a little bit of Thai bird’s eye chili and add more if you want it spicier.
- Prepare Ingredients Early: Shred the papaya and make the dressing ahead of time. Mix everything together just before serving.
- Balance Flavors: Taste the dressing before adding it to the salad. Make sure it’s balanced with sweet, sour (lime juice), salty (fish sauce), and spicy flavors.
- Add Crunch: Sprinkle crushed peanuts on top for a crunchy texture. Optionally, garnish with fresh herbs like cilantro or Thai basil.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
