Som Tum (Green Papaya Salad)

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Ingredients

1 medium green (unripe) papaya (about 500g) 5-10 Thai bird’s eye chilies (adjust to taste) 3 cloves garlic 10 cherry tomatoes, halved 50g long beans or green beans, cut into 2-inch lengths 2 tbsp dried shrimp, soaked in warm water for 5 mins 2 tbsp roasted peanuts 2-3 tbsp fresh lime juice (about 1-2 limes) 2 tbsp fish sauce 1 tbsp palm sugar (or brown sugar) 1 tbsp tamarind juice (optional) 1 small carrot, julienned (optional) 1/4 cup fresh Thai basil leaves (optional)

Detail Steps and Procedure

1. **Prepare papaya:** Peel the green papaya using a vegetable peeler. Using a sharp knife or mandoline, shred the papaya into thin, long strands. Place in a large bowl of cold water with ice cubes to keep crisp while preparing other ingredients.2. **Make dressing:** In a small bowl, combine lime juice, fish sauce, palm sugar, and tamarind juice (if using). Stir until sugar dissolves. Taste and adjust the balance of sour, salty, and sweet to your preference.3. **Pound aromatics:** Using a mortar and pestle (traditional method), pound the garlic and chilies into a rough paste. If you don’t have a mortar, mince finely.4. **Bruise vegetables:** Add long beans to the mortar and pound lightly to bruise them (or use the back of a knife). Add tomato halves and pound gently just until they release some juice but remain intact.5. **Combine in mortar:** Drain the papaya well and add to the mortar along with soaked dried shrimp and peanuts. If your mortar is small, you may need to transfer everything to a large mixing bowl.6. **Mix thoroughly:** Add the prepared dressing. Using two large spoons or salad tongs, toss and mix everything together vigorously for 1-2 minutes to ensure the dressing coats every strand and the flavors meld.7. **Taste and adjust:** Taste and adjust seasoning if needed – more lime for sourness, fish sauce for saltiness, or sugar for sweetness.8. **Serve immediately:** Transfer to a serving plate. Garnish with extra peanuts and Thai basil leaves if using. Serve immediately while fresh and crisp.

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