Thai Papaya Salad Recipe

Thai Papaya Salad, also known as Som Tum is a refreshing and zesty salad made with shredded green papaya, fresh herbs, crunchy vegetables, and a tangy dressing.

Ingredients:

• 1 green papaya, peeled and shredded
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2-3 Thai bird’s eye chilies, finely chopped (adjust to taste)
• 2-3 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 small carrot, julienned
• Handful of long beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
• 1-2 tablespoons dried shrimp (optional)
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon palm sugar or brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon tamarind paste
• Salt, to taste
• Fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
• Lime wedges, for serving

Instructions:

1. In a large mortar and pestle, pound the garlic and Thai chilies together to form a rough paste.
2. Add the halved cherry tomatoes to the mortar and gently crush them to release their juices.
3. Add the shredded green papaya, julienned carrot, and long beans to the mortar. Use a pestle to lightly bruise the vegetables and mix them with the garlic, chilies, and tomatoes.
4. Add the roasted peanuts and dried shrimp (if using) to the mortar and continue to gently pound and mix everything together.
5. In a small bowl, whisk together the fish sauce, lime juice, palm sugar, and tamarind paste until the sugar is dissolved.
6. Pour the dressing over the papaya mixture in the mortar and toss everything together until well combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt, if needed.
7. Transfer the Thai Papaya Salad to a serving plate and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.
8. Serve the salad immediately with lime wedges on the side.