Som Tum Lao
Som Tum (green papaya salad) is like a main meal where I grew up. The majority of people from Northeaster, Thailand are farmers. Among their traditional food, Som Tum is the king. This beautiful mix of seasonal green papaya with fresh tomato, a squeeze of lime juice and a bit of anchovy gravy, fish sauce and a bit of sweetness from sugar has made its way to the mainstream top of the food list in Thailand. No, I meant to say 'world'. An extravaganza banquet would not be complete without grilled chicken and sticky rice. No words can describe how much I love this dish.
Som Tum Lao (Green Papaya Salad)
Sliced green papaya 1.5 cup
Fish sauce 1 tbsp
Palm sugar 2 tsp
Anchovy gravy 2 tbsp (opt-out if you don’t like it)
Lime juice 2 tbsp
Salted crab 1 whole crab
Dried shrimp ¼ cup
Cherry tomatoes 5
Tamarind sauce 1 tbsp
Chilli 5-10 (or less if you don’t eat spicily)
Garlic 4 cloves
How to make
Start by preparing all of the ingredients, slicing the green papaya, cherry tomatoes and garlic, and crushing the chillies.
In a mortar and pestle, crush the chillies and garlic to make a paste.
Add the green papaya, cherry tomatoes and dried shrimp to the mortar and continue to pound until the green papaya is lightly smashed.
Mix in the fish sauce, palm sugar, anchovy gravy, lime juice, and tamarind sauce to the mortar and continue to pound until well combined.
Taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking by adding more fish sauce, palm sugar, lime juice or tamarind sauce.
Finally, mix in the salted crab and pound lightly to combine.
Serve with grilled chicken and sticky rice.
Note: If you prefer not to use a mortar and pestle, you can chop all of the ingredients finely and mix them in a bowl. Just remember that the traditional method is to pound the ingredients in a mortar and pestle to bring out the maximum umami flavour.
As always, all of my recipes are loosely based on my personal taste. You are free to create your own flavour that suits you.
Making this dish reach its maximum umami flavour is not right or wrong. Some do love sour leads in taste, some like a bit of saltiness and somewhat like in between.
As always, all of my recipes are loosely based on my personal taste. You are free to create your own flavour that suits you.
