No pestle & mortar in your kitchen? Not to worry! This Som Tam recipe allows you to make this popular Thai salad easily, without any need for pounding. I like pestle & mortars, don't get me wrong, but sometimes when I'm using one, I feel a little like a cave woman making her man's supper. It can be fun sometimes, but other times I just find it messy and a lot of work. I know how to make it the traditional way, and how not to - and there is very little difference in the taste if any at all. For this recipe all you need is a small chopper or food processor. You can find green (unripe) papaya in most supermarkets, or look for them at an Asian market. Although raw green beans are part of this dish, I don't add them (find them hard to digest), so I made that optional. This salad is great on its own or served as a side to any Thai meal. If it's the star player, in Thailand they nearly always serve it with sticky rice on the side (see link at the end of this recipe for how to make it).