Green Papaya Salad
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.
Servings: 2 people
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
Serving: 2people | Calories: 209kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 169mg | Sodium: 613mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g