I’m very excited to introduce you to one of Thailand’s national dishes, som tam (ส้มตำ). This recipe is very simple, authentic, and easy. The first destination on my Gapshida tour was to visit Tanja Rogers in Canterbury, England (read my blog about the trip here). She’s been one of my readers for a long time, and she invited me to her house to share some traditional Thai recipes that she learned from her mother. For this salad she replaced papaya with swede (also known as rutabaga) because it’s not easy for her to find a firm green papaya where she lives. When made with swede, this salad tastes almost the same as if it were made with papaya. Tanja is now posting her Thai recipes on YouTube which is great!
I love the way all the ingredients are mixed with a mortar and pestle. And there are many variations on the recipe, just like kimchi.
In the 1990s, when I traveled to Chiang Mai, Thailand, I took a few cooking classes. One of the dishes that I learned was papaya salad. I loved the flavor, taste, and the way of mixing, slightly pounding the ingredients. “Koong koong koong!” The pounding sound from the kitchen will make any family excited about the dish.
This is an authentic way of preparing a spicy Thai papaya salad! “Let’s bruise thin papaya strips with garlic, chilies, palm sugar, lime, and fish sauce!” It’s a great chance for you to learn a real Thai recipe, and a spicy yet refreshing salad !
Enjoy the recipe and special thanks to Tanya Rogers!
Cooking time: 30 minutes