The authentic Thai Som Tam recipe presented below will help you prepare an original and tasty dish. With dominant flavors of acidity and spiciness, Som Tam, also called green papaya salad, is a dish that strongly stimulates the taste buds.
Quick summary
What is Som Tam?
Som Tam or Som Tum is a green papaya salad (grated papaya salad) originating from Thailand. This dish is mainly made with grated green papaya. The name "Som Tam" refers to its flavors and the method of preparation. "Som" means sour and "Tam" means to pound. Thais eat Som Tam as a side dish for vegetables during a meal. In 2011, CNNGo ranked Som Tam as the 46th best food in the world.
If you have the chance to visit Thailand , you should definitely try this delicious dish. But if you haven't had the chance to visit this country yet and still want to try this dish, follow the Som Tam recipe below!
Ingredients to make Thai Som Tam
- 1 green papaya (about 300g)
- 1 carrot
- 1 tomato
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 2-3 red peppers (according to taste)
- 30g roasted peanuts
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1-2 tablespoons palm sugar (or regular sugar)
- 50g dried shrimp
- 4-5 long beans (if available)
- A small bunch of coriander for garnish
- Necessary utensils
Blender
- Julienne grater
- Knife and cutting board
How to prepare Som Tam Netherlands
Preparation of ingredients
Green papaya and carrot : peel, then grate into thin strips.
Tomato : cut into medium sized pieces.
Dried shrimp : Soak in warm water until soft, then drain.
Long beans : cut into pieces of about 4-5 cm (if available).
Mix the ingredients with a blender
Place the garlic, chilli, dried shrimp and some peanuts in the blender. Blend lightly so that the ingredients are ground but remain slightly coarse to keep some crunch.
Preparation of the sauce
Add fish sauce, lemon juice and palm sugar to blender. Blend lightly until ingredients are well combined.
Mix the Som Tam
Pour the mixture into a large bowl. Add the grated papaya, carrot, tomato, and long beans (if available). Mix well so that the ingredients are coated in the sauce.
Finishing
Sprinkle roasted peanuts on top, garnish with cilantro and add a little chili if you like spicy food.
Tasting
Som Tam is best eaten immediately to preserve the crunchiness of the papaya and the freshness of the ingredients.
Although the Som Tam recipe is simple to make with common ingredients, this unique dish has an irresistible flavor, combining refreshing acidity, spiciness, sweetness and saltiness, and a delicious aroma of dried shrimp. Enjoy your meal and good luck!
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