Thai Papaya Salad (Som Tum)
Sweet, salty, spicy, and sour Thai papaya salad (som tum Thai) is bursting with the perfect balance of incredible Thai flavors. This fresh and crisp green papaya salad is healthy and perfect for a hot summer day.
Servings 3 servings
Calories 186kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups green papaya peeled and julienned
- 3 tablespoons roasted peanuts chopped
- 1 tablespoon dried shrimp roughly chopped
- 3 long beans cut into 2-inch pieces
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
Dressing
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1-2 Thai bird's eye chili or more to taste, chopped
- 2 tablespoons hot water
- 1 ½ tablespoons palm sugar finely minced
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon tamarind paste
- 1 ½ tablespoons fish sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the green papaya. Peel the papaya and slice it in half. Deseed and julienne into small strips. Soak the papaya in ice water for 10-15 minutes.
- Prepare the long beans. Crush the long beans in the mortar and pestle with 3 to 5 gentle taps until bruised and tenderized. Remove and set aside.
- Smash the garlic and Thai chili. Using a mortar and pestle, smash the garlic and Thai chilis until they form a paste.
- Make the dressing. In a small bowl, mix together the hot water and palm sugar until the sugar dissolves. Then combine the garlic, Thai chili paste, lime juice, tamarind paste, and fish sauce.
- Serve. In a large mixing bowl, combine the papaya, long beans, tomatoes, dried shrimp, roasted peanuts, and the dressing. Serve the Thai papaya salad with more roasted peanuts and enjoy!
Notes
See the Expert Tips for more guidance.
Nutrition
Calories: 186kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 966mg | Potassium: 491mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 1562IU | Vitamin C: 103mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 1mg