Som Tum Thai

Green Papaya Salad


Som Tum Thai or Papaya Salad, as foreigners call it, iss a dish which is renowned for its digestive properties. Som Tum is made mainly from sliced raw papaya - afruit which is also known as a soft pill for relieving constipation and for its rich iron content.

Papaya salad originates from Isan, in North-eastern Thailand, but due to its popularity, is found throughout the kingdom.

There are three types of Som Tum: Som Tum Thai, Som Tum Poo(crab) and Som Tum Pla Ra (fermented fish). The differences between the three of them are:
  • Som Tum Thai is garnished with ground roasted peanuts.
  • Som Tum Poo preserved crabs are added.
  • Som Tum Pla Ra on the other hand, contains fermented fish, which is one of the primary food of Isan people.
However, Som Tum Thai seems to be the most famous amongst the Thais amd foreigners.

TIP
  • This salad goes well with sticky rice (standard recipe) and grilled chicken.
  • Serve the salad quickly to ensure the papaya is still crunchy in texture
  • If you do not have papaya on hand, use cucumber, carrot or combination of both.
INGREDIENTS (4 persons)
  1. 250 g.         green papaya, peeled and sliced in thin strips
  2. 5                  bird chilies 
  3. 3                  garlic cloves
  4. 20 g.            green beans, sliced length l inch
  5. 5                  cherry tomatoes
  6. 1 tbs.           palm sugar
  7. 1 tbs.           dried shrimps
  8. 30 g.            roasted plain peanuts
  9. 2 tbs.           lime juice
  10. 1 tbs.           fish sauce
  11. 250 g.         white cabbage
PREPARATION
  • Pound a fraction of the papaya with chillies, garlic, beans and palm sugar in a mortar.
  • Add sliced tomatoes, shrimps, peanuts and the remaining papaya. Season with lime juice and fish sauce. Serv immediately with white cabbage leaves or other new vegetables.

DELICIOUS !!!

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