Name: Som Tam (Green Papaya Salad)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: 2 tbsp fish sauce; 2 tbsp lime juice; 1 tbsp palm sugar; 2–4 Thai chilies; 2 garlic cloves; 1 medium green papaya (shredded, about 4 cups); 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved); ¼ cup long beans (cut into 1-inch pieces); ¼ cup roasted peanuts; 2 tbsp dried shrimp (optional); Sticky rice; Cabbage leaves (for scooping)

Spoon Simple

Som Tam (Green Papaya Salad)

Shredded green papaya pounded with chilies, lime, fish sauce, and peanuts. Crunchy, spicy, sour, and utterly addictive Thai street food.

Prep 20 min

Cook 5 min

Total 25 min

Serves 4

Lunch·Thai·Medium

Ingredients

Step 1 — Dressing

2 tbsp fish sauce
2 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp palm sugar
2–4 Thai chilies
2 garlic cloves

Step 2 — Salad

1 medium green papaya (shredded, about 4 cups)
1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
¼ cup long beans (cut into 1-inch pieces)
¼ cup roasted peanuts
2 tbsp dried shrimp (optional)

Step 3 — Serve

Sticky rice
Cabbage leaves (for scooping)

Instructions

1
Pound the dressing
In a mortar, pound chilies and garlic. Add fish sauce, lime juice, and palm sugar. Dissolve sugar completely.
2
Pound the salad
Add long beans and tomatoes. Pound lightly. Add papaya and pound gently to bruise and absorb dressing — do not mash.
3
Serve
Toss in peanuts and dried shrimp. Serve immediately with sticky rice and cabbage leaves.

Nutrition per serving: 180 cal · 6g protein · 24g carbs · 8g fat · 4g fiber

For informational purposes only. Not medical or dietary advice. Verify ingredients for allergens, cooking times, and safe internal temperatures before serving.