Green Papaya Salad

Som Tum is Thailand's fiery green papaya salad — crunchy shredded papaya pounded in a mortar with lime, fish sauce, chilies, and peanuts. It is loud, fresh, and punishingly addictive, balancing sweet, sour, salty, and spicy in every single bite. The secret is bruising, not crushing, the papaya.

Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

5 mins

Total time

25 mins

Servings

4 servings

Calories

180

Ingredients

• 1 small green papaya (about 1 lb / 450 g), peeled and shredded
• 2 cloves garlic
• 3 Thai chilies, or to taste
• 1/2 cup green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 tablespoons dried shrimp (optional)
• 3 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons palm sugar, grated
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
• 1/3 cup roasted peanuts
• 1 small carrot, shredded (optional, for color)
• 6 lettuce leaves, for serving

Instructions

1. Pound the garlic and chilies in a large mortar with a pestle until roughly broken down. If you have no mortar, mince them finely and mash in a large bowl.
2. Add the palm sugar, fish sauce, and lime juice. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely — taste and adjust: it should be bold, sour, salty, and sweet.
3. Toss in the green beans and dried shrimp. Bruise the beans lightly with the pestle so they drink up the dressing.
4. Add the shredded papaya and cherry tomatoes. Pound and turn the mixture gently for about 1 minute — bruise, don't crush, the papaya strands.
5. Fold in most of the peanuts, reserving a spoonful for garnish.
6. Taste once more. Som tum should punch you a little — add lime for sour, fish sauce for salt, or sugar for sweetness until it sings.
7. Serve immediately on lettuce leaves or in a bowl, topped with the remaining peanuts.

Pro tips

• Buy a truly green, unripe papaya — the firmer and greener, the crunchier the salad.
• Dress aggressively; shredded papaya is bland on its own and needs bold seasoning.
• Make it vegetarian by swapping fish sauce for soy sauce and skipping the dried shrimp.
• Serve within minutes of making — the papaya wilts and the dressing dulls if it sits.

Frequently asked questions