Thai Papaya Salad ( Som Tum )

Serves 2

Som Tum is the most popular salad in Thailand. It is a very healthy salad that is low in calories and full of fresh vegetables. This is a fun dish to make and is especially delicious during the hot summer months.

Ingredients :

2 cups shredded green papaya

1 apple shredded

4-6 cherry tomatoes halved

1 tablespoon dried shrimp/soaked

1 cup long green beans cut 1"

2 lime wedges

2 cloves of crushed garlic

4 hot green chilies chopped

1 teaspoon fresh lime juice

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon fish sauce

1 1/2 tablespoon palm sugar

1 tablespoon tamarind juice

4 tablespoon crushed roasted peanuts

Preparation:

1. Crush the chilies, beans, garlic, tomatoes and peanuts in a mortar

2. Add shredded raw papaya,shredded apple,dried shrimp, lime wedges, sugar and seasoning with lime juice, fish sauce, tamarind juice and salt.

3. Taste should be spicy, sour, sweet and nutty

4. Serve with rice, appetizer or side dish

You will need a mortar and pestle in order to have traditional style Papaya Salad. Make sure to bruise the raw papaya, vegetables and sauce together completly. A variation is to add a little shrimp paste or fermented crabs if you prefer flavors of the sea.

Enjoy the Som Tum!

Sincerely,

Toom