Making Somtam "Papaya" Salad

Have you ever tried Thailand's somtam salad? Seriously, you have to have one of these!

Here in Thailand, somtam salad is everywhere. They are very affordable too! With less than a dollar, you can enjoy a hefty serving of Thailand's tasty, spicy somtam salads. This dish goes well with chicken and cashew nuts, another dish I learned from Thais.


To those who are not familiar with somtam, it's a papaya salad mixed nuts and dried shrimps (if you want) swimming in a sweet, salty and spicy sauce. Somtam salads are great for appetizers or a dish on its own. Here, let me show you how to make it at home.

Ingredients in making somtam salad.
- green papaya

- tomatoes, chopped
- chilis, chopped
- garlic, chopped
- onions, chopped
- palm sugar
- fish sauce
- nuts
- dried shrimps (optional)


Let's start making somtam salad.
1. Shred the papaya as seen on the image below.

If you have mortar and pestle at home, pound the papaya gently so it's a bit mashed. It's how somtam salads are usually done. However, if you don't have one, that's fine too. We can still make a decent somtam salad.

2. Mix the following in a deep bowl:

• garlic
• onions
• tomatoes
• chili 
• palm sugar

3. Put this in a blender to prepare for the sauce. 

Roughly blend them together just enough to release juices from the tomatoes. (If you have mortar and pestle, you can immediately add these ingredients as you pound the papaya shreds.)


4. Pour the mixture back to the bowl. 
5. Add fish sauce. You can add more palm sugar or chili, depending on your tolerance for spice.
6. Add the papaya in this mix.
7. Add the nuts. 
8. Mix them well together.
9. Serve as an appetizer. 

This salad has loads of fiber content that's good for your digestive health. Since papaya is a low-calorie food and chili increases body metabolism, somtam salad is also good for weight loss. Enjoy!

Remember me when you cook!