Som Tam /Som Tum

Hi!

Today I share an excellent salad which is very popular in Thailand and one should try and taste it to know why. ‘Green Papaya Salad’ or Som Tam  is a beautifully unique and flavour-filled dish that will make a great impression. It’s so healthy, high on fibre, low in calories, very high in taste and eating satisfaction, helping you stay slim. This salad recipe is crunchy-delicious, whether served as a side dish/appetizer, or as the main course. It is normally served with the sticky rice but I had a bowl of it without any accompaniments.

I have tried to veganize the preparation, the original recipe asks for the use of shrimp paste and fish sauce which I have surely avoided here but one is free to use them if they like. These sauces add to the saltiness of the salad for which I have used soy sauce.The slightly tart flavour of the green papaya combines well with the spice of green chillies and the saltiness of soy sauce, plus the sweetness of honey/sugar.

Ingredients

3 cups green papaya grated

1 medium tomato deseeded and cut into strips

4-5 green chillies finely chopped

about 3 tbsp coriander finely chopped

2-1/2 tbsp lemon juice

about 1/2-1 tbsp tamarind pulp

2 tsp sugar/honey

1 tsp light soy sauce

salt to taste

about 1/2 cup crushed roasted peanut

Method

Mix all the ingredients and chill for about an hour before for the flavours to get mixed and imbibed by  the papaya. One can adjust the spiciness, tanginess and sweetness as per their taste.

 

Sending this to my event ‘Only’ Salad,  guest hosted by Prathibha.