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Som Tam (Green Papaya Salad)

Name: Som Tam (Green Papaya Salad)
Total time: 15 min
Yield: Serves 2
Cuisine: Thailand
Ingredients: 1/4 Green papaya; 1/4 Carrot; 4 Cherry tomatoes; 4 Green beans; 2 cloves Garlic; 2 Chili pepper; 2 tbsp Peanuts; 1 tbsp Dried shrimp; 1 tbsp Fish sauce; 1/2 Lime; 2 tsp Palm sugar

Side Dish

⏱ 15 min

👥 Serves 2

Difficulty ⭐⭐

Shredded green papaya pounded with chili and lime — a refreshing, fiery classic from northeastern Thailand.

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📖 The Story Behind This Dish

Som tam originates from Isan (northeastern Thailand). "Som" means sour, "tam" means to pound — the ingredients are pounded together in a wooden mortar and pestle to meld the flavors. It's a dish any Thai homemaker knows how to make, a true food of the people.

🌆 Where it's eaten: A porch in rural Isan: the rhythmic thud of mortar and pestle rings out as women chat over the day's gossip. Eaten alongside sticky rice (khao niao).

🥕 Ingredients (serves 2)

Green papaya 1/4
Carrot 1/4
Cherry tomatoes 4
Green beans 4
Garlic 2 cloves
Chili pepper 2
Peanuts 2 tbsp
Dried shrimp 1 tbsp
Fish sauce 1 tbsp
Lime 1/2
Palm sugar 2 tsp

👩‍🍳 Instructions

Julienne the green papaya (or daikon) and carrot.
Pound the garlic and chili in a mortar (or bowl).
Add the peanuts, dried shrimp, and green beans (pounded).
Add the fish sauce, lime juice, and palm sugar.
Add the cherry tomatoes, papaya, and carrot; lightly pound and toss to combine.
Plate and scatter with extra peanuts to finish.

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