Name: Thai Green Papaya Salad (Som Tum)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: 1 medium Green Papaya; 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes; 0.5 cup Green Beans; 0.25 cup Roasted Peanuts; 2 cloves Garlic; 2 to 4 Bird's Eye Chilies; 1 tablespoon Palm Sugar; 3 tablespoons Fish Sauce; 3 tablespoons Lime Juice; 1 tablespoon Tamarind Paste; 1 tablespoon Dried Shrimp

A vibrant and refreshing salad from Thailand, known for its bold flavors and crunchy texture. It combines shredded unripe papaya with a spicy, sour, sweet, and savory dressing, often pounded together in a mortar and pestle. Som Tum, or green papaya salad, originated in the Isaan region of northeastern Thailand and Laos. It's a staple dish across Thailand, enjoyed as a snack, side dish, or light meal, and is celebrated for its perfect balance of the five fundamental Thai tastes.

Instructions

1
Prepare the green papaya by peeling it, halving it, removing the seeds, and then shredding it into fine strips using a julienne peeler or a sharp knife. Set aside.
2
In a large mortar and pestle, add garlic and bird's eye chilies. Pound until roughly crushed.
3
Add palm sugar, fish sauce, lime juice, and tamarind paste (if using). Pound gently to dissolve the sugar and mix the dressing.
4
Add green beans and dried shrimp (if using) to the mortar. Lightly pound to bruise them and release their flavors.
5
Add shredded green papaya and cherry tomatoes to the mortar. Gently pound and toss with a spoon until all ingredients are well combined and coated with the dressing. Do not over-pound; the papaya should remain crunchy.
6
Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary, adding more fish sauce for saltiness, lime juice for sourness, chilies for spice, or palm sugar for sweetness.
7
Transfer the salad to a serving plate and garnish with roasted peanuts. Serve immediately.

Chef's Tips

•Use a traditional mortar and pestle for the best texture and flavor extraction; a food processor will not yield the same results.
•Adjust the spice level by increasing or decreasing the number of chilies. For less heat, remove the seeds.
•For extra crunch, you can add shredded carrots or a few small cubes of fresh pineapple.
•If green papaya is unavailable, use daikon radish or cucumber, though the texture and flavor will differ slightly.