Name: Thai Green Papaya Salad Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: 500g / 4 cups green papaya, shredded, tightly packed (~1 medium, 2/3 large); 20 snake beans, cut into 5cm (2″) pieces (raw); 3 cups grape tomatoes, halved (~400g / 14oz); 1 cup roasted unsalted peanuts; 1/2 cup Thai basil leaves; 2 tbsp garlic, roughly chopped (10 normal or 4 large cloves); 6 bird eye chillies, roughly chopped with seeds (adjust quantity for spice preference); 6 tbsp dried shrimp; 1 cup palm sugar, grated and loosely packed; 1/2 cup lime juice; 1/2 cup fish sauce

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Introduction

Thai Green Papaya Salad, or Som Tum, is a vibrant and refreshing dish that combines tart, spicy, and sweet flavors with a satisfying crunch. It’s a popular street food in Thailand, perfect for a light meal or a zesty side dish.

The dish is a tall mound of light beige rice noodles mixed with green long beans and fresh dark green basil leaves, sitting in the center of a white plate. Bright red cherry tomato halves and small red chili slices are scattered around the noodles, adding vibrant color. The noodles are topped with crushed light brown peanuts, adding texture, with some peanuts scattered on the plate as well. The background has a white marbled texture and a pair of dark brown chopsticks is resting to the right of the plate. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

2 tbsp garlic, roughly chopped (about 10 normal or 4 large cloves)
6 bird eye chillies, roughly chopped with seeds (use fewer for less spice)
6 tbsp dried shrimp
1 cup palm sugar, grated and loosely packed
1/2 cup lime juice
1/2 cup fish sauce
1 cup roasted unsalted peanuts
20 snake beans, cut into 5cm (2 inch) pieces
3 cups grape tomatoes, halved (about 400g / 14oz)
500g (4 cups) green papaya, shredded and tightly packed (about 1 medium papaya)
1/2 cup Thai basil leaves

Instructions

Step 1: Crush the peanuts in a mortar and pestle lightly until broken into large pieces, not powder. Transfer to a bowl.
Step 2: Pound the garlic and chillies into a paste using the mortar. Add the dried shrimp and crush them without grinding into a paste.
Step 3: Stir the palm sugar, lime juice, and fish sauce into the garlic and chilli mixture until the sugar dissolves. Pour this dressing into a large bowl.
Step 4: Add snake beans to the mortar in batches and pound to bruise and soften them. Add the beans to the dressing bowl.
Step 5: Crush handfuls of grape tomatoes by hand and add them into the bowl with the dressing and beans.
Step 6: Add the shredded green papaya and three-quarters of the crushed peanuts to the bowl. Toss everything well using two wooden spoons or tongs.
Step 7: Serve immediately by piling the salad onto plates. Spoon over any remaining dressing, garnish with Thai basil leaves, and sprinkle with the remaining peanuts.

Tips & Variations

To reduce the heat, remove some or all of the bird eye chilli seeds before chopping.
Substitute dried shrimp with toasted shredded coconut for a vegetarian version.
Use a food processor to shred the papaya if a mortar and pestle are not available, but avoid over-processing the salad ingredients.
Add a splash of tamarind juice for extra tanginess if desired.

Storage

Thai Green Papaya Salad is best enjoyed fresh, as the crispness of the papaya and beans can soften over time. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. Give it a quick toss before serving again, but avoid reheating since it is traditionally served cold or at room temperature.

How to Serve

The image shows a close-up of a dish with thin rice noodles being lifted by silver tongs. The noodles are long, pale yellow, and mixed with bright green leafy vegetables and sliced green beans. There are pieces of red chili and halved cherry tomatoes adding bright red spots throughout the dish. The noodles sit in a white bowl with lime wedges on the side. The background features a soft, light blue color, and the bowl is placed on a white marbled textured surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use regular green beans instead of snake beans?

Yes, regular green beans can be used as a substitute. Just cut them into similar lengths and lightly pound or firmly smash them to soften before adding to the salad.

What can I use if I don’t have palm sugar?

If palm sugar isn’t available, brown sugar is a suitable substitute. It provides a similar depth of sweetness, though the flavor is slightly less complex.