The abundance of fresh ingredients is ever-present in Thai food. A popular Thai dish that showcases fresh vegetables is som tum Thai or green papaya salad. This is one of our personal favorites and can be found anywhere in Thailand from restaurants to food stalls.
Som tum Thai often made of shredded unripe papaya, sliced tomatoes, raw green beans, peanuts, crushed dried mini shrimp, and fresh garlic. A sweet, salty, tangy sauce made of sugar, lime juice, and fish sauce completes the dish. It can be easily altered by leaving out an ingredient or two, but don’t be afraid to try it in its original form.
Som tum can be eaten by itself, We recommend eating som tum with sticky rice because it cools your mouth and allows you to mop up the sauce. We enjoy pairing it with skewers of grilled chicken.
Som tum is so popular and easy to make that it seems almost every family, restaurant, and food stall has their own special recipe. No matter where you are in Thailand, there’s bound to be delicious som tum close by.